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Increased awareness on cervical cancer pushed
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Posted on Jan 16 2001
Declaring January 2001 as Cervical Cancer Awareness Month, Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio yesterdat urged all women in the Northern Marianas to increase awareness on the risks of the disease.
Mr. Tenorio is also encouraging local women to discuss a screening program with their health care providers. “I also ask all citizens to encourage the women they love to do so.”
The National Cervical Cancer Awareness Month is celebrating its second year of enhancing the education of all women about the importance of cervical cancer screening, especially those at risk for cervical cancer due to being rarely or never screened.
Cervical cancer is an important women’s health problem, killing some 200,000 women each year. It is the third most common cancer overall and the leading cause of death among women.
As the incidence of HIV infection increases (women with HIV induced immune-suppression are at high risk of developing cervical cancer), and as the population ages during the coming decades, the number of cervical cancer is expected to increase.
Because cervical cancer generally develops slowly and has a readily detectable and treatable precursor condition, it can be prevented through screening based on routine cytological examination of Papanicolaou (Pap) smear test and treatment of precancerous conditions of women at risk.
