Lt. Gov. Sheehy Promotes Campaign to End Cervical Cancer in the U.S.

(Lincoln, NE) Lt. Governor Rick Sheehy is among those encouraging women to take action to end cervical cancer by taking steps that can help lower their risk of developing the disease.

January is Cervical Health Awareness Month and the National Lieutenant Governors Association (NLGA) has developed the “Ending Cervical Cancer in our Lifetime” campaign, which encourages women to use regular screenings in combination with prevention measures to reduce their risk of exposure to the virus that has been linked with cervical cancer.

The American Cancer Society estimates that more than 11,000 new cervical cancer cases were diagnosed last year with nearly 3,700 deaths. In Nebraska, 63 cases were diagnosed in 2005. Cervical cancer is largely preventable and a highly curable cancer if diagnosed at an early stage.  

“My colleagues and I are engaged in an effort that could help end cervical cancer in our lifetime,” Lt. Gov. Sheehy said. “While cervical cancer deaths in the U.S. have declined in recent years, the rate of invasive cervical cancer is up. Given that this type of cancer is both highly preventable and extremely curable when diagnosed early, we all have the opportunity to have a positive impact on the women in our lives by simply talking about the importance of prevention and screening with our mothers, sisters, daughters, and friends.”

Nebraska is one of 17 states to receive promotional materials as part of the End Cervical Cancer campaign. Five thousand brochures and “Make the Connection” bracelets promoting the link between regular pap screenings and early detection of cervical cancer have been distributed to local health departments across the state.

Dr. Joann Schaefer, Chief Medical Officer for the state, said, “Prevention and early detection are the key to ending cervical cancer in our lifetime. Being vaccinated, getting regular Pap smears and delaying exposure to the virus through sexual contact are all things that will minimize a woman’s chances of getting cervical cancer.”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that nearly all cervical cancer cases are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). While HPV traditionally has no symptoms and usually goes away on its own, strains of high-risk HPV have been shown to lead to cervical cancer. A Pap smear is used to detect abnormal and pre-cancerous cells on a woman’s cervix, and women are encouraged to have regular Pap tests to increase the likelihood of an early detection.

Women can also lower their risk for HPV and cervical cancer by delaying the age of sexual activity and having fewer sexual partners. New vaccines for HPV are also useful in protecting women from developing HPV and cervical cancer.

“By helping more women make the connection between the virus and the cancer, there is a real opportunity to end cervical cancer here in Nebraska,” Lt. Gov. Sheehy said.

The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services Public Health Division sponsors the Every Woman Matters program, which helps ensure screenings for cervical cancer and other diseases are available to women in the state. Since 1991, the program has helped more than 60,000 women access regular screenings and resulted in the diagnosis of 60 invasive cervical cancers.

Women ages 40 through 64 who meet certain income requirements and who have limited or no health insurance coverage may qualify for assistance with their annual health screenings. To enroll in the program, call Every Woman Matters at 1-800-532-2227, or ask your doctor’s office or local clinic if they participate in the program.

More information about the Ending Cervical Cancer campaign is available on the NLGA Web site at http://www.nlga.us. More facts on cervical cancer can be found by visiting the American Cancer Society online at http://www.cancer .org.