Planned Parenthood Recognizes National Cervical Cancer Awareness Month By Urging Women to Get Regular Checkups

Sioux Falls — Making New Year’s resolutions? As part of Cervical Cancer Awareness Month, Planned Parenthood of Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota (PPMNS) is urging women in South Dakota to put preventive checkups, including cervical cancer screenings, at the top of their lists.

Every year, approximately 13,000 women in the U.S. are diagnosed with cervical cancer, and about 4,000 American women die of the disease.

“The New Year is the perfect time to see if you’re due for a checkup,” said Sarah Stoesz, PPMNS President and CEO. “Regular screenings and preventive care, including the HPV vaccine, are the keys to combating cervical cancer.”

PPMNS’ health centers in Sioux Falls and Rapid City offer routine cervical cancer screenings and the HPV vaccine, which protects against the types of HPV that most often cause cervical cancer. Last year alone, PPMNS provided nearly 25,000 cervical cancer screenings to women across Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota. “Whether you have private insurance, are uninsured, or need low-cost services, our doors are open to everyone,” continued Stoesz.

Worldwide, cervical cancer is the third most common cancer among women and the fourth leading cause of cancer deaths among women. In the U.S., Latinas and African-American women are at higher risk for developing and dying of cervical cancer because they are less likely to have access to early screening and treatment.

“The good news is that cervical cancer is one of the most preventable cancers out there,” said Stoesz. “When caught early, the five-year survival rate is nearly 100 percent.”

“Cervical cancer takes many years to develop, so regular Pap tests can help detect abnormal cells early enough to prevent the disease. HPV vaccination before sexual activity begins and regular Pap tests are the best ways to protect yourself against cervical cancer”, added Stoesz.

Planned Parenthood’s guidelines call for initial screening at age 21; screening every two years for women aged 21–29; and screening every three years for women aged 30 or older who have had three consecutive normal Pap tests and no history of certain abnormalities.

As the region’s most trusted provider of women’s health care, more than 60,000 patients annually depend on PPMNS for quality, affordable health care. Planned Parenthood is the nation’s leading health care provider and advocate, serving nearly three million patients annually through its health care service providers, and another 1.2 million through educational programs. One in five women has turned to Planned Parenthood at some point in her life for professional, nonjudgmental, and confidential care.