Healthcare professionals encourage preventative measures during Cervical Cancer Awareness Month

CLEAR WATER, Wis. (WEAU) – It’s January Cervical Cancer Awareness Montha moment to remind people to take preventive measures against cervical cancer.

“The main source of cervical cancer is the human papillomavirus. It’s a virus. It is sexually transmitted through skin-to-skin contact. So HPV can be prevented by getting a series of HPV vaccines in young people, but it can also be prevented by screening,” said Cynthia Eckes, family nurse practitioner at the Marshfield Clinic. “Cervical cancer screening is a Pap test. It’s a vaginal exam that’s done here in the practice, easy to get, and not necessary before the age of 21.

The other main preventative measure is the series of HPV vaccines.

“The vaccine series is indicated for women and men, as well as boys and girls between the ages of nine and 45,” Eckes said. “Ideally, you can get the streak before sex or the introduction of any sexual behavior, as this will hopefully prevent it.”

Cervical cancer can affect women of all ages, which makes regular checkups so important.

“We usually frequently diagnose women with cervical cancer between the ages of 25 and 45,” said Angela Quick, director of the Prevea Cancer Center at HSHS Sacred Heart Hospital. “What I found interesting about cervical cancer is that about 20% of cervical cancer diagnoses are actually up to the age of 65. “

Also, there are not many warning signs of cervical cancer.

“With cervical cancer, the signs and symptoms only really exist when the cancer is large enough to affect nearby tissues,” Quick said. “So that’s when you would probably see abdominal pain or vaginal bleeding, abnormal vaginal bleeding. So you would want to see your doctor if you had any of those symptoms.

Quick and Eckes said cervical cancer is serious but it can be prevented.

Copyright 2023 WEAU. All rights reserved.