Posted: | January 8, 2014 03:28 PM |
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From: | Representative Julie Harhart |
To: | All House members |
Subject: | January as Cervical Cancer Awareness Month |
I plan to introduce a resolution recognizing January 2014 as Cervical Cancer Awareness Month in Pennsylvania. With regular and accurate screening, cervical cancer is highly preventable. Most cervical cancers are caused by the Human Papillomavirus (HPV), a common virus. The good news is most of the HPV infections that cause cervical cancer can be prevented with vaccination. However, while the incidence of cervical cancer is dropping, every year 12,000 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer. Even with the availability of very safe and effective HPV vaccines, missed vaccination opportunities remain high in Pennsylvania and in the United States overall. Approximately half of all cervical cancer cases are in women who have never been screened and ten percent of cases are in women who have not been screened within the last five years. Increasing cervical cancer awareness among women, especially underserved women, decrease their likelihood of developing cervical cancer. That awareness, coupled with early detection and immunization, can successfully treat cervical cancer. I hope you will consider joining me as a sponsor of this resolution. |
Introduced as HR612