January is Cervical Health Awareness Month and health authorities are spreading the word to encourage women to get screened for cervical cancer.
A news release from the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) urged Texans to educate themselves on this common form of cancer impacting women from about the age of 20. An estimated 464 Texas women died from cervical cancer in 2023 while roughly 1,489 more were diagnosed with this largely preventable disease.
The human papillomavirus infection is the cause of nearly every case of cervical cancer, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This is a prevalent virus spread through sexual contact with an infected person, yet women — preferably under age 26 — can be vaccinated against it.
Otherwise, it is possible to reduce one’s risk of cervical cancer through not smoking, practicing safe sex by using condoms, and maintaining a healthy weight, since being obese has been associated with higher odds of not being screened for this disease.
Overall, obesity — a rampant public health issue in the U.S., where nearly 42% of Americans are obese — has been shown to increase one’s risk of developing several cancers, as reported by The Dallas Express.
The early detection of cervical cancer is critical to have a more favorable outcome. Yet since symptoms — which include bleeding or unusual discharge — typically do not manifest themselves until the cancer is already well advanced, gynecological checks for cancerous cells are important.
“Routine cervical cancer screening is the most effective way to detect cervical cancer early,” said Faith Sandberg-Rodriguez, HHSC’s associate commissioner of Family Clinical Services.
“However, many potentially eligible Texas women may not know about services in their area or experience other barriers to accessing care. HHSC helps low-income women access timely cervical cancer screening and diagnostic services.”
HHSC’s Breast and Cervical Cancer Services program, which is funded by both the state and the CDC, helps eligible Texas women receive low-cost and free women’s health services, including cervical cancer screenings, in clinics across the state.
