January is Cervical Cancer Awareness Month!

January has been designated as the Cervical Health Awareness Month by the United States Congress. As part of this special recognition, The Pearl of Wisdom Campaign to Prevent Cervical Cancer has launched its “Take the Pearl Pledge” initiative, an effort which urges women to take control of their health through preventive screening efforts. The campaign asks women to schedule their annual gynecologic examination, wear a Pearl of Wisdom in support of cervical cancer prevention, and encourage 5 friends to do the same. Launched in 2009 by the European Cervical Cancer Association, this campaign is a united, global effort to raise awareness of the opportunities now available to prevent cervical cancer and includes support from over 100 organizations across Europe. Cancer charities, cancer treatment centers, medical associations, university teaching hospitals, and health education organizations have all pledeged their committment to support cervical cancer prevention.

Cervical cancer is distinguished as the second leading cancer in women worldwide, with more than 12,200 women expected to be diagnosed this year alone, and 4,210 of these women predicted to die from this cancer. The good news is that cervical cancer is almost always preventable— routine Pap smears and HPV testing can be utilized to detect the cancer in its earliest (and most treatable) stages, while the HPV vaccine can prevent the cancer altogether. Therefore, with proper screening and vaccination, no woman should die from this disease.

According to the Pearl of Wisdom campaign, every woman should be empowered to take control of her health through the following measures:

• Girls and young women: Ask your healthcare provider about the HPV vaccine, which protects against the two types of HPV (human papillomavirus) that cause the majority of cervical cancers. The vaccines are recommended for girls 11 to 12 years old, and are approved for girls and young women up to age 26. Even women who have been vaccinated will still need to be screened.
• Women age 21 or older: Get the Pap test, which detects abnormal cells that can lead to cervical cancer.
• Women age 30 or older: Get the Pap test and the HPV test together as part of routine cervical cancer screening. The HPV test detects the virus that causes cervical cancer, identifying those women at increased risk who will need to be monitored more closely.

Take part in this important campaign to take charge of your own health and support the health of women worldwide!