Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Cervical Cancer for Latinas is twice as high

Cuidate. Armate. Educate. Latinas for Cervical Cancer Prevention Campaign is launched.

NEW YORK, NY -- According to the American Cancer Society, there are approximately 10,000 cases and 3,700 deaths from cervical cancer in the U.S. per year.

The incidence of cervical cancer for Latina women in the United States is almost twice as high as non-Latina white women. Latina women have the 2nd highest mortality rate from cervical cancer (after black women).


Cervical cancer is very preventable. 85% of women who die from cervical cancer never had a pap smear.

In June 2006, the FDA approved the first vaccine, Gardasil®, manufactured by Merck & Company, developed to prevent cervical cancer caused by four strains of HPV; two of which are responsible for 70% of cervical cancer incidences and two strains which are responsible for 90% of genital warts caused by HPV. 


Campaign Wrap-Up!

Many Latina Advocacy Networks of the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health and other affiliated organizations around the country have been hosting great events related to the Cuídate. Ármate. Edúcate. Latinas for Cervical Cancer Prevention Campaign. Read more.


WHAT CAN YOU DO? 


1. CUÍDATE

Take care of yourself and the women in your life. Make sure you get regular pap smears and screenings for sexually transmitted infections.


Help the women in your community access reproductive health care services. Create a resource guide to help women get pap smears and learn how to get the HPV vaccine. 


2. ÁRMATE

Ensure that you and others in your community are armed with the important tools needed to prevent cervical cancer. Support initiatives on the local and state level that expand public funding for cervical cancer screenings and access to the HPV vaccine.
Use the Cuídate. Ármate. Edúcate. Postcard and spread the word about cervical cancer prevention. Send the postcard to your friends, family and local decision makers (teachers, neighbors, local officials, community leaders) and start the discussion about cervical cancer and HPV. 


3. EDÚCATE

Educate yourself about cervical cancer and HPV, and share that information with the people in your life, family and community.


Host a cafecito and invite community members to talk about cervical cancer, HPV and the vaccine. See the Cafecito guide for more information and tips for your cafecito. 


Resources: Human Papillomavirus, Cervical Cancer and HPV Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions (Spanish)
Latinas and Cervical Cancer Fact Sheet (Spanish)
NLIRH Statement on the HPV vaccine (Spanish



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