Jan. 12--ASHLAND -- January is Cervical Health Awareness Month and health agencies across the country are urging women to undergo annual screenings and to vaccinate themselves against a common cause of cervical cancer.
Kentucky ranks seventh in the nation in the number of cases and deaths from cervical cancer, according to the National Cancer Institute. Between 2001 and 2005, the Kentucky Cancer Registry recorded 318 Kentuckians died from cervical cancer.
The Appalachian region of Kentucky, which includes Boyd, Carter, Greenup, Elliott and Lawrence counties, has a higher rate of newly diagnosed cervical cancer cases then the rest of the state, according to officials with the Ashland-Boyd County Health Department.
Cervical cancer is curable in most instances, if detected early, and in most cases is also preventable, according to health officials.
The best way to detect cervical cancer early is with an annual pap test, also called a pap smear. The test, performed in a doctor's office or clinic, takes only a few minutes and screens for abnormal cells in the cervix that may lead to cancer if not treated. If a test shows abnormal cells that could become cancerous, numerous treatments options are available to remove the abnormal cells.
According to Valerie Barney, a registered nurse and Ashland-Boyd County Health Department Nursing Supervisor, women should begin having the yearly exams at age 21 or after becoming sexually active.
"Cancer of the cervix is so preventable," Barney said, adding its often hard to convince women to get their annual examinations. "Older women are bad because they don't think they need them. Younger women don't want to have them because they think it is an invasion of privacy or embarrassing."
Barney said the Ashland-Boyd County Health Department does have a female physician available to do the screenings for women who are uncomfortable getting the exam from a male doctor.
Barney said the annual exams offer more than just the pap; they also check for early signs of breast cancer and screen for sexually transmitted disease that can lead to other long-term health problems.
Women are also educated on a new addition to the prevention strategy -- a vaccination for the Human Papillomavirus, or HPV. The vaccine, administered in a series of three shots, protects women against the strains of HPV known to cause 70 percent of all cervical cancer cases.
The College of Obstetrics and Gynecology recommends the vaccine for women between ages 9 and 26, according to Kristina Rowe, a nurse practitioner with Bellefonte Women's care. Rowe said the vaccine -- known by its brand name, Gardasil -- works most effectively when administered to women before they become sexually active.
"Usually when the children come for their sixth grade physicals we try to encourage the mothers to start the series then because if we can get them before they are sexually active it's much better," said Barney. She said students in Kentucky are required to have physicals before their sixth-grade year when they are 11 or 12.
Although less so, the vaccine is still effective in sexually active women, those who have been diagnosed with genital warts, or who have previously had abnormal pap smears, Rowe said. Those women are also encouraged to receive the vaccine, she said.
As awareness spreads more women are being vaccinated, according to Rowe and Barney. Although there is some opposition from parents of young girls, many more are deciding to vaccinate their children at a young age.
Most insurance companies cover the vaccine, which is also available to uninsured, underinsured and Medicaid eligible children through the state's Vaccines for Children Program. Barney said the program is available at Health Departments statewide for individuals up to age 19.
Both Rowe and Barney stressed that the vaccine accompanied by annual pap tests is the best way to prevent cervical cancer.
"Both are important," Rowe said. "They need to have the Gardasil vaccine and annual pap smears, which are both preventative health services."
Cervical cancer rates are higher for low income and uninsured women because of the limited access to preventive care, Rowe said. She said smoking can also make women more susceptible to cervical cancer by weakening the immune system.
Kentucky women can also undergo their annual exam and be given a Pap Test at their local health department through the Kentucky Women's Cancer Screening Program.
Exams are available free to uninsured women as part of a cancer screening visit and insured or underinsured women can receive the services on a sliding-scale fee system.
"Kentucky does have a very high cancer rate and we do try to advertise the availability so that everyone can be served. Anyone can come but the cancer screening program will pay for those that have nothing (no insurance)," Barney said.
CARRIE STAMBAUGH can be reached at cstambaugh@dailyindependent.com or (606) 326-2653.
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