How do you protect yourself against a disease that has no symptoms? What would you say if someone said that there was a vaccine for cancer? What if early screenings could prevent you from developing cancer? The truth is cervical cancer is a silent killer that displays no visible symptoms until it is advanced. The truth is that having a yearly exam can mean the difference between developing cancer and finding problems before they turn into cancer.

Cervical Cancer may not get the attention that some other cancers get but each year thousands of women across the United States are diagnosed. Like most cancers your risk of developing cervical cancer increases with age. Vermont women ages 75-79 have the highest rate of cervical cancer according to the May 2007 Cervical Cancer in Vermont report released by the Department of Health. Recommendations that women receive yearly Pap test to check for cervical cancer suggest women get screened until the age of 65 but the stats show that older women run a high risk of cervical cancer so women should talk to their doctors about screening. According to Allison Hicks of the Hicks foundation says just because “you are not using it doesn’t mean you do not have to get screened.”

Hicks was just 29 when she was diagnosed with advanced cervical cancer. Days later after a radical hysterectomy which left her “scarred and unable to bear biological children” Hicks felt that there was not a lot of support or outreach to educate women on the importance of regular screenings. Hicks established her foundation as a “call to action” to educate women and provide free cervical cancer screenings for women without insurance. Hicks feels that there “has to be a lot more energy toward educating people on cervical cancer which can be prevented.” Most cases of cervical cancer come from human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. In the United States there are 20 million men and women infected with HPV and by the age of 50 at least 80% have had an HPV infection.

Hicks has formed a partnership with the Maitri Health Care “to help eradicate cervical cancer." On Jan 12 the Maitri Health Care will offer free screenings and HPV vaccines. This will allow women who do not have insurance to be screened for as Hicks says “money should not be the big issue.” Women can call or stop in for a Pap smear, pelvic and breast exam and young women from the ages of 9-26 can be vaccinated against HPV. Last year over 40 women attended the free screening day. Young girls came to be vaccinated and women as old as in their 70’s came to be screened for cervical cancer. Among the 40 that were screened last year, 4 of them were found to have pre-cancerous conditions that would have turned into cervical cancer if it had not been discovered during the screening.

According to the American Cancer Society between 60-80% of American women with newly diagnosed invasive cervical cancer had not had a Pap test in the past five years and many of them have never had a Pap test. In addition, only about half of the women age 65 and older have reported having a Pap test in the last three years according to the Vermont Dept of Health.

According to Hicks now is the time for women to get screened. Hicks believes “you can’t put it off, make a resolution for the beginning of the year to be screened.”

Free Cervical Screening Day
Sat., Jan 12 - 9:00am-4:00pm
Maitri Health Care for Women
96 Colchester Ave, Burlington
862-7338

Sarah Lemnah writes on senior issues for the Champlain Valley Agency on Aging. This article originally appeared in the Burlington Free Press.