For Cervical Health Awareness Month, the state health department encourages women ages 21 to 74 to start the year by talking with their healthcare 
providers about scheduling a Pap test.
Every year in the United States, approximately 13,170 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer, according to CDPHE. A Pap test is the first line of defense against cervical cancer; finding cervical cancer early is critical.
“When you find out can be just as important as what you find out. When cervical cancer is detected early, more than 92% of women have a five-year survival rate,” said HRRMC Foundation Director Kimla Robinson. “Cervical cancer usually doesn’t have any signs or symptoms, so a routine Pap test will tell you if you have a problem.”
CDPHE Interim Chief Medical Officer Dan Shodell, M.D., said, “Cervical Health Awareness Month is the perfect time to remind women that these tests could be the difference between life and death. Women's Wellness Connection offers free screenings. We can help women stay cancer free…”
Women’s Wellness Connection offers free cervical cancer screenings and any necessary follow-up testing to Colorado women. The program offers free cervical cancer screening and diagnostic services to women ages 21 through 64, who have little or no health insurance and meet income requirements. To be eligible for the Women’s Wellness Connection, women must earn less than 250% of the federal poverty level and have no health insurance or have health insurance with high deductibles or copays.
Dr. Tiffany Rhodes, gynecologist at HRRMC, will be presenting information on the human papilloma virus (HPV) at a Lunch & Learn on Jan. 15, at noon. HPV is linked to cervical cancer, and Dr. Rhodes will share how the two are related and how HPV can be prevented.
For more information about the presentation or Women’s Wellness Connection, contact Brenda at 719-207-2088 or brenda.gentile@hrrmc.net.
