This press release put out at the request of the Florida Department of Health in Alachua County.
January is Cervical Health Awareness Month, and the Florida Department of Health in Alachua County encourages women to visit their healthcare provider to be screened for cervical cancer and learn more about preventing cervical cancer through lifestyle change and vaccination.
As of 2015, cervical cancer, or cancer starting in the cervix, is the 15th leading cause of cancer deaths among women in Florida. Human Papillomavirus (HPV) causes nearly all cervical cancers. HPV is a common virus that is passed from one person to another during sexual activity. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), cervical cancer is the easiest gynecologic cancer to prevent, with regular screening tests and follow-up.
“Our Health Department team is on the front lines preventing this disease,” said Paul Myers, Administrator at the Florida Department of Health in Alachua County. “We offer free and sliding-scale testing and vaccination to make sure anyone in Alachua County can afford and access these key preventative services.”
According to CDC, to reduce risk or prevent cervical cancer women should:
- Get the HPV vaccine between ages 9 and 26
- See their health care provider regularly for a Pap test between ages 21 and 65
- Not smoke
- Limit the number of sexual partners
Completing the three dose HPV vaccination series can help prevent multiple cancers, including cervical cancer and cancer of the mouth and throat. The department’s Immunization Section provides vaccinations for HPV through several programs.
Two screening tests can help prevent cervical cancer or find it early:
- The Pap test (or Pap smear) looks for precancers, cell changes on the cervix that might become cervical cancer if they are not treated appropriately.
- The HPV test looks for the virus that can cause these cell changes.
Talk to your healthcare provider about when a Pap test is most appropriate for you. Tests for specific HPV strains can support earlier diagnosis of cervical cancer. Women ages 50 to 64, who are uninsured and are at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty level can receive Pap tests through the department’s Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program.
Click to learn more about the Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program.
Click to learn more about the HPV Vaccine.
Click to learn more about the department’s Immunization Section.
For more information, contact John Gonzales at 352-334-7914 or john.gonzales@flhealth.gov.
