When cases of cervical cancer are caught early, the five-year survival rate is nearly 100 percent. Regular cervical cancer screenings and preventive care such as the HPV vaccine are the keys to combating cervical cancer—and Upper Hudson Planned Parenthood is dedicated to providing both. If you're a woman between the ages of 19 and 26, you're eligible for free HPV vaccination at our health centers. Many of our patients also receive free Pap smears by enrolling in the Family Planning Benefit Program. Click here to request an appointment online, or here to find the contact information for the Planned Parenthood health center closest to you.
Last year, Planned Parenthood health centers provided nearly one million Pap tests, which identified about 93,000 women who may be at risk of developing cervical cancer, and also administered almost 45,000 HPV vaccinations. HPV vaccination before sexual intimacy and regular Pap testing are the best methods to protect against cervical cancer. Cervical cancer takes many years to develop, so regular Pap tests will help detect any precancerous or abnormal cells early enough to allow cervical cancer to be prevented. Latinas and black women are more likely to develop and die of cervical cancer because they are less likely to have access to early screening and early treatment, outcomes that reflect a larger problem of unequal access to health care. But with the help of New York state programs, many of UHPP's patients get their Pap tests for free—click here to find out how.
UHPP's health centers also provide the HPV vaccine. The vaccine is a major breakthrough in the fight to prevent cervical cancer and should be considered a routine, normal part of health care. It is a safe and effective vaccine that prevents most cases of cervical cancer.
The FDA has approved this vaccine and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has included it in its list of recommended vaccines for girls aged 11-12 years. Leading medical groups, including the American Cancer Society, the American Academy of Pediatrics, as well as Planned Parenthood, support girls getting the HPV vaccine. Click here to learn more about getting the vaccine at UHPP.
