Cervical Health Awareness Month In Natrona County And Across The Nation [AUDIO]

The Wyoming Comprehensive Cancer Control Consortium recommends that all women begin cervical cancer screenings at age 21 and continue every 2-3 years or as recommended by their healthcare provider.  The CDC recommends that you get screened within 3 years of having sex.

Cancer screening is looking for cancer before a person has any symptoms.

Screening tests can help find cancer at an early stage, before symptoms appear. When abnormal tissue or cancer is found early, it may be easier to treat or cure. By the time symptoms appear, the cancer may have grown and spread. This can make the cancer harder to treat or cure.

It is important to remember that when your doctor suggests a screening test, it does not always mean he or she thinks you have cancer. Screening tests are done when you have no cancer symptoms.

In Natrona County, 78.5% of women had had a pap smear in within the last 3 years (age 18 and over); as compared to 80.6% of women (age 21 and over) in all of Wyoming in 2010.   Natrona County has the 12^th best screening rates among all Wyoming counties.

In 2010, 78.3 % of women in Wyoming had had a pap test in the last 3 years.  This is the 6^th worst screening rate in the nation – Wyoming ranks 44^th out of 50.

Jillian Riddle with Wyoming Cancer Resource Services joined us this morning to talk facts and figures.

Risk factors for Cervical Cancer:

• Not having at least 1 Pap Test every three (3) years
• Started having intercourse at an early age
• Smoking
• You or your partner have had multiple sexual partners
• You have HPV (Human Papillomavirus) or other sexually transmitted infection
• You have a compromised immune system or have HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus)

January is Cervical Health Awareness Month. Wyoming Cancer Resource Services is focused on educating women about the importance of the Pap test as a screening tool for cervical cancer, HPV and vaccines that can reduce the burden of this devastating disease.  Start the New Year by reflecting on your health and contact your health care provider to schedule a Pap test. Cervical cancer is a preventable disease– as long as it’s caught early.  For information on cancer prevention, call Wyoming Cancer Resource Services at 1-877-344-5364 or Click Here.