Women Urged to Get Screened for Cervical Cancer During January, Cervical Cancer Screening Month

Reprinted with kind permission of Gynecologic Cancer Foundation

Chicago, IL (January 6, 2004) To mark January 2004 as Cervical Cancer Screening Month, the National Cervical Cancer Public Education Campaign today urged women to get screened for cervical cancer in order to prevent the disease.

"During January, Cervical Cancer Screening Month, it is critical that women take time to educate themselves about cervical cancer and understand that this disease is preventable," said Karl C. Podratz, M.D., Ph.D., Chairman of the Gynecologic Cancer Foundation, the Campaign's lead partner. "With cervical cancer, women hold their destinies in their own hands. Since this is the one gynecologic cancer we can generally prevent or detect in its earliest states, screening offers women the opportunity to protect their health."

Additionally, the Campaign announced that in January three new resources will be available online, which will help women learn more about cervical cancer, screening for the disease and treatment options.

The three free resources, which will be available at www.wcn.org/gcf, include:

• An educational presentation about cervical cancer that includes basic information about the disease, screening and treatment options.
• A national cervical cancer resource list that provides women with detailed information about national organizations that can provide further resources about cervical cancer.
• A public service announcement in Web video format that encourages women to be screened during Cervical Cancer Screening Month.

Each year in the United States, approximately 12,200 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer and an estimated 4,100 women die from the disease. The National Cervical Cancer Public Education Campaign, which is led by the Gynecologic Cancer Foundation and includes 26 partner organizations, works towards the goal of improved screening and early detection of cervical cancer, which will result in a major reduction in the incidence and mortality from cervical cancer among women, especially the unscreened and the underserved.

The Campaign's lead partner, the Gynecologic Cancer Foundation, is an organization dedicated to ensuring public awareness of cervical cancer prevention, early diagnosis and proper treatment as well as supporting research and training related to cervical cancers.

The Campaign also partners with a core group of women's, health and cancer organizations, to develop and disseminate information to women throughout the United States about cervical cancer and available detection methods.
Campaign partners include:

America Online
American Cancer Society-Mid-Atlantic Division
American College of Nurse-Midwives
American Medical Women's Association,
Founding Lead Partner
American Social Health Association
American Society for Cytotechnology
Association of Reproductive Health Professionals
Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses
Business and Professional Women
Cancer Research and Prevention Foundation of America
Gynecologic Cancer Foundation,
Lead Partner
National Alliance for Hispanic Health
National Asian Women's Health Organization
National Black Nurses Association
National Cervical Cancer Coalition
National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship
National Council of La Raza
Education Association Health Information Network and Reproductive Health Association
Planned Parenthood Federation of America
Society of Gynecologic Oncologists
Society of Gynecologic Nurse Oncologists
Society for Women's Health Research
YWCA of the USA

The Gynecologic Cancer Foundation is a not-for-profit charitable organization established by the Society of Gynecologic Oncologists in 1991 to support research related to gynecologic cancers, to fund training of clinician scientists, and to increase public awareness and information related to gynecologic cancers and their precursors. The mission of the Gynecologic Cancer Foundation (GCF) is to ensure public awareness of gynecologic cancer prevention, early diagnosis and proper treatment. GCF advances this mission by increasing public and private funds that aid in the development and implementation of programs to meet these goals. GCF was named by Worth Magazine as one of "America's 100 Best Charities." Of the 26 health organizations listed, GCF was one of only two organizations solely focused on women's health. For more information, please visit www.wcn.org or call 1-800-444-4441.

References:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT:

January 6, 2004 Dan Hewitt

202-530-4695 Office

202-277-3972 Mobile

National Cervical Cancer Public Education Campaign Stresses Ability of Women to Prevent Disease by Taking Action