January is Cervical Health Awareness Month
By: Jose G. Landa, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc., Copyright 2016
The American Social Health Association (ASHA) and National Cervical Cancer Coalition (NCCC) have named January 2016 as Cervical Health Awareness Month to promote women’s health and encourage women in the United States to get screened for cervical cancer and receive the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine.
While most women are aware of Cervical Cancer, many forget to take the steps to have a plan to detect the disease in its early stages, say experts.
Cervical Health Awareness Month is designed to raise awareness how women can protect themselves from HPV (human papillomavirus) and cervical cancer. HPV is the most common sexually transmitted disease. It’s also a major cause of cervical cancer.
About 79 million Americans currently have HPV. Many people with HPV don’t know they are infected with the disease.
The good news is that HPV can be prevented with the HPV vaccine and Cervical Cancer can often be prevented with regular screening tests (called Pap tests) and follow-up care.
Cervical Cancer screenings can help detect abnormal (changed) cells early before they turn carcinogenic. Most deaths from cervical cancer can be prevented by regular Pap Smear tests and follow-up health care.
Cervical Health Awareness Month makes a difference by educating American women of the importance of having regular health care check-ups, cervical cancer screenings, and getting the HPV vaccine to prevent and/or detect cervical cancer and HPV.
Women are encouraged to get their well-woman visit yearly with their medical doctor.. Under the new Affordable Care Act, well-woman visits and cervical cancer screenings are covered under the health care law. Women with health insurance can get these critical health services and tests covered by their health plans. Women without health insurance can get these services at a local federal community health clinic at a discounted or reduced fee.
Parents are encouraged to speak with and teach their young daughters about the importance of getting the HPV vaccine and receiving yearly check-ups like their mothers.
Locally, the United Medical Centers will be having free health screenings on Wednesday, January 20, 2016 from 9 A.M. through 11 A.M. as well as receive information on the HPV vaccine and cervical cancer awareness at its 2525 North Veterans Blvd. clinic in Eagle Pass, said William Worrell, Chief Executive Officer at United Medical Centers.
Another event that UMC will be attending and providing vital health information to women in the community is the Ventanilla de Salud at the Mexican Consulate Office at Garrison Street in Eagle Pass on Friday, January 29, 2016 from 9 A.M. through 12 Noon, providing free health screenings and information about cervical cancer awareness.
Another local health care provider which offers women with free mammograms and pap smear tests is the Maverick County Hospital District’s Breast and Cervical Cancer Services Program (BCCS) located at 3406 Bob Rogers Drive in Eagle Pass, said Terri Contreras-Patlan, Chief Executive Officer at the Maverick County Hospital District. The Maverick County Hospital District BCCS program may be contacted at (830) 757-4907.
Maverick County women between the ages of 40 and 64 may receive free breast cancer examinations and mammograms while women between the ages of 21 to 64 years of age may receive free pap smears to detect cervical cancer at the MCHD’s Breast and Cervical Cancer Services program. Women are encouraged to visit the BCCS Program to receive their yearly health check-up, screenings, and vaccines. BCCS is for low-income women in Maverick County who do not have health insurance, but persons of all income brackets are invited to visit and consult with BCCS and its Doctors.
The goal of the Maverick County Hospital District BCCS Program is to detect and treat breast and cervical cancer early.
Maverick County women no longer need to travel out-of-town to San Antonio or elsewhere to receive cervical and breast Cancer screenings and treatment. They can now have them done locally at the Maverick County Hospital District’s BCCS Program, the United Medical Centers, or local private physician.
Women with cervical cancer tend not to have symptoms until the cancer becomes invasive. When women do have symptoms of cervical cancer, they can include irregular vaginal bleeding. vaginal discharge with an unpleasant odor, watery vaginal discharge, vaginal discharge tinged with blood and pelvic or back pain.
The Maverick County Hospital District BCCS Program may be contacted at (830) 757-4907 and the United Medical Centers may be contacted at one of their three medical clinics, including 2525 N. Veterans Boulevard (830) 757-5823, 1175 Eidson Road (830) 757-6946, or 4015 El Indio Highway (830) 872-3460.
