Contact:
Kent Donahue
Kent.Donahue@flhealth.gov

407-858-1418

Orlando, FL – The Florida Department of Health in Orange County (DOH-Orange) encourages women to visit their health care provider during Cervical Health Awareness Month to get screened for cervical cancer, and learn more about preventing cervical cancer through lifestyle change and vaccination.

More than 14,000 women in the United States are diagnosed with cervical cancer each year and more than 4,200 die, according to the National Cervical Cancer Coalition. In most cases cervical cancer can be prevented through early detection and treatment.

Nearly all cervical cancers are caused by Human Papillomavirus (HPV), which is a common virus that is passed from one person to another during sexual activity. Completing the three dose HPV vaccination series can help prevent multiple cancers, including cervical cancer and cancer of the mouth and throat.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (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

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 health care provider about when a Pap test is most appropriate for you. Tests for specific HPV strains can support earlier diagnosis of cervical cancer.

If you are a woman between the ages 50-64 years old, low income, and uninsured, contact DOH-Orange’s Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program at 407-858-1421 about the Pap test program.

Learn more about the Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program at http://orange.floridahealth.gov/programs-and-services/clinical-and-nutrition-services/breast-cervical-cancer-program/index.html

To learn more about the department’s Immunization Section visit http://www.floridahealth.gov/programs-and-services/immunization/ or contact your county health department.

About the Florida Department of Health

The department works to protect, promote and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county and community efforts.

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