Cervical Health Awareness Month: A Few Actions Can Make This Cancer Mostly Preventable
January 6, 2025
Did you know that cervical cancer is one of the few cancers that can be prevented?
January is Cervical Health Awareness Month, and if there is one, single data point to know when it comes to cervical health, that would probably be it.
Through a combination of routine screenings, vaccination, and healthy habits, cervical cancer is highly preventable, per The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The CDC offers these proactive measures to prevent the onset of cervical cancer.
- HPV vaccine - The CDC recommends that children get the HPV vaccine between the ages of 9 and 12, and that young adults up to age 26 get it as soon as possible. The vaccine is especially effective when given before a person becomes sexually active.
- Regular screening - Get a Pap test every three to five years, starting at age 21. For women over 30, a Pap test may be combined with an HPV DNA test.
- Practice safe sex - Use condoms during sex and limit the number of sexual partners.
- Stop smoking - Smoking increases the risk of cervical cancer.
- Eat healthy - Eat foods high in antioxidants and other cancer-fighting nutrients, and avoid diets high in saturated and trans fats, sugar, and sodium.
- Exercise regularly - Get at least 30 minutes of exercise a day.
More good news: If cervical cancer is detected early, it's highly curable. It can be treated in several ways, depending on the type of cancer and how far it has spread. Treatment options include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, immunotherapy, targeted therapy, or a combination of these options.
Guess who has even more information and expertise about cervical health? The OB/GYN team at the Center for Women’s Health in Watertown. Visit our website or find an OBGYN who can guide you through cervical health and much more.