Planned Parenthood Offers Affordable Cancer Screening and Education
CHAMPAIGN – Planned Parenthood of East Central Illinois (PPECI) offers affordable cancer screenings for men and women at their Champaign, IL health center. Available services include screenings for breast, testicular and cervical cancer. Certified medical professionals conduct screenings and education by appointment at the Champaign health center, 302 E. Stoughton. Appointments can be made at 359-8022. Planned Parenthood accepts Medicaid and most insurance plans. An income-based fee scale is available for those without health coverage.
Planned Parenthood of East Central Illinois provides clinical exams at all health centers. More than 9,400 clinical breast and testcular exams were conducted for patients at all six PPECI health centers during 2005. Patients also receive self-exam instruction and education about the importance of regular cancer screening. Regular self-exams are one of the most effective ways to detect and treat cancer early.
Female patients will receive a pap test during a gynecological exam. It is recommended that women 21 and older, or those of any age who are sexually active, receive a pap test each year. Pap tests are used to detect abnormalities that may lead to cervical cancer. If a pap test returns abnormal results, PPECI clinicians discuss appropriate follow-up care, which may include a colposcopy, with each patient.
Planned Parenthood of East Central Illinois provides education and resources that may help prevent some forms of cervical cancer. Cervical cancer is sometimes caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV), a common sexually transmitted virus. PPECI will offer the new HPV vaccine in the future. Safe sex practices including limiting the number of sex partners and using condoms can also help prevent an HPV infection that could lead to cervical, vaginal or other cancers. Planned Parenthood provides condoms and education about safe sex practices to reduce the risk of contracting sexually transmitted infections including HPV.
To learn more about Planned Parenthood of East Central Illinois and its health care services, please visit http://www.ppeci.org/. To schedule an appointment at the Champaign health center, call 359-8022.
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Planned Parenthood of East Central Illinois is the largest provider of reproductive health care in downstate Illinois and provides services to more than 14,000 men, women and teens each year. Planned Parenthood of East Central Illinois has been providing personal, affordable and confidential healthcare, education and advocacy in the area since 1940.
NOTE: This release was customized and released for each health center location. These include Bloomington, Champaign, Clinton, Effingham, Lincoln, and Ottawa.
