Cervical Cancer Awareness Month
Cervical Cancer Awareness Month is dedicated to educating everyone about the disease and encouraging women to get tested. Cervical cancer is a cancer that starts within cervix, which is the upper part of the uterus. All women are at risk of cervical cancer and in the United States more than 13,000 women are diagnosed with it each year. Although all women are at risk, the disease can be prevented with regular screening tests such as the Pap test and the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine.
It is recommended that all boys and girls get the HPV vaccine at the age of eleven to produce a stronger immune system. It is also recommended to get a three-dose series by the age of forty-five. Some risk factors for cervical cancer are having the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), smoking, using birth control pills for five or more years, giving birth to three or more children, and having several sexual partners.
Cervical cancer is a disease, but with prevention and early testing you can still live a healthy fulfilling life.
For more information, go to the following links –
https://www.nccc-online.org/hpvcervical-cancer/cervical-health-awareness-month
https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/cervical/basic_info/index.htm
https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/cervical/basic_info/risk_factors.htm