American Association for Cancer Research

National Cancer Prevention Month: How Cervical Cancer Early Detection and Vaccination Saves Lives

February is National Cancer Prevention Month, a time to raise awareness about the preventable causes of cancer and encourage healthy lifestyle choices to reduce cancer risk. When it comes to cervical cancer, the disease can be almost entirely prevented through effective measures such as the HPV vaccination and regular screenings.

Ready for a “wow” moment? According to the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR), the five-year survival rate for cervical cancer is approximately 92% when detected early, compared to just 17% in advanced stages. While the National Cancer Institute notes that prognosis statistics are based on large sample sizes and individual responses to treatment can vary, this stark difference – between early detection versus later – underscores the critical role of prevention in saving lives.

In honor of Cervical Cancer Awareness Month last month, the Prevent Cancer Foundation asked our founder, Tamika Felder, to create a video call to action to educate and empower others about cervical cancer. Check it out, then take a moment to learn about the best ways to prevent the disease.

4 Tips for Cervical Cancer Prevention

Here are some prevention tactics that can significantly reduce the risk of cervical cancer:

1. HPV Vaccination

The Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine is a highly effective way to prevent cervical cancer, protecting against the HPV strains most commonly linked to the disease. Recent research search shows that cervical cancer deaths among young women up to age 25 have dropped significantly since the introduction of the HPV vaccine in the mid-2000s.

The recommended HPV vaccination schedule is as follows:

  • Ages 9–12: The vaccine can be started as early as age 9 and is routinely recommended at ages 11–12.
  • Ages 13–26: If not vaccinated earlier, individuals up to age 26 can receive the vaccine, with a catch-up schedule if needed.
  • Ages 27–45: The vaccine is FDA-approved for adults up to age 45. While the benefit is lower in this age group, those at risk can discuss vaccination with their healthcare provider.

For more information, check out our Partners in Purpose at the National HPV Roundtable. 

2. Healthy Lifestyle

Maintaining a healthy lifestyle can help reduce the risk of cervical cancer. This includes:

  • Avoiding Tobacco: Smoking tobacco and exposure to secondhand smoke can increase cancer risk.
  • Eating a Balanced Diet: Focus on a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and fiber while ensuring adequate calcium intake. Limit processed meats and alcohol consumption.
  • Exercising Regularly: Staying active helps maintain a healthy weight, as obesity can contribute to cancer risk.

Even if you’re a cervical cancer survivor, maintaining a healthy lifestyle can support overall well-being and help reduce the risk of recurrence. Need motivation? Survivor Slimdown is an online space powered by Cervivor for all cancer survivors of all cancer types. By joining this community, you’ll get monthly fitness and diet challenges, daily motivation, accountability from others, and education from our Certified Wellness Instructor and Cervivor Ambassador, Patti Murillo-Casa.

3. Regular Screening

Regular screening is essential for early detection of cervical cancer. The Pap test and HPV test can help identify abnormal cell changes or HPV infections before they become cancerous. Now, there are even more options like an HPV Self-Collection test.

The current recommended screening guidelines by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) are as follows:

  • Women aged 21 to 29 years: Screen for cervical cancer every 3 years with cytology alone.
  • Women aged 30 to 65 years: Screen for cervical cancer every 3 years with cytology alone, every 5 years with hrHPV testing alone, or every 5 years with cotesting.
  • Women younger than 21 years, women older than 65 years with adequate prior screening, and women who have had a hysterectomy: Do not screen for cervical cancer.

Disclaimer: The guidelines are currently being updated.

4. Diagnostic and Treatment Options

If abnormal cell changes or high-risk HPV infections are detected, there are several diagnostic and treatment options available including:

  • Colposcopy: A procedure that uses a special microscope to examine the cervix for abnormal cell changes.
  • Cryotherapy: A treatment that uses freezing temperatures to destroy abnormal cells.
  • LEEP (Loop Electrosurgical Excision Procedure): A procedure that uses a special wire loop to remove abnormal cells.
  • Laser Therapy: A treatment that uses a laser to destroy abnormal cells.

By taking advantage of the prevention and early detection options outlined above, you can significantly reduce your risk of cervical cancer – not just during National Cancer Prevention Month, but all year long.

Join the Mission to Prevent Cervical Cancer

At the heart of cervical cancer prevention and awareness is Cervivor, a global community dedicated to educating and empowering those affected by cervical cancer. But we don’t stop there! Our community includes patients, survivors, loved ones, care teams, policymakers, and more – working together to drive meaningful change in their own backyards and beyond.

LeLisa Arrington educates passersby about cervical cancer prevention.
Dulcely Tavarez discusses cervical cancer prevention with two women at a community event.

One of Cervivor’s key prevention initiatives, #Screen4Me, encourages individuals to prioritize cervical cancer screening and follow-up care, emphasizing that early detection saves lives. The concept behind it? If someone isn’t motivated to get screened for themselves, they’re encouraged to do it for someone who has experienced cervical cancer – as in, “get screened for me.”

Through #Screen4Me, Cervivor provides:

Cervivor is working to close the gap in cervical cancer screening and education, aiming to save lives by detecting cervical cancer early, when it is most treatable. By supporting programs like #Screen4Me, we can work together to create a cervical cancer-free future!

Interested in learning more? Sign up for updates here. Want to help fund our mission to end cervical cancer? All donations are gratefully accepted through our “Tell 20, Give 20” campaign. Find out more!

Honoring the Life and Legacy of Jennifer Walker Myers

In the quiet corners of Pennsylvania, a fierce individual fought valiantly against cervical cancer. Today, we come together to remember and celebrate the extraordinary life of Jennifer “Jenn” Walker Myers, a woman whose strength, resilience, and generous spirit touched the lives of many.

Jenn’s journey with cervical cancer brought her to the doors of Cervivor, a community that became her refuge and her sanctuary. In her own words, “When I discovered Cervivor two and a half years ago, I felt like a weight that I didn’t even know existed was lifted from my mind.” 

This group of women from diverse backgrounds understood the depth of her struggles, offering solace and understanding that transcended the boundaries of a traditional support network. Cancer became Jenn’s unexpected occupation, leading her to leave behind a career she loved. Yet, rather than succumbing to despair, she channeled her 30 years of leadership, mentoring, communication, and support experience to uplift others within the Cervivor community. For Jenn, this became a new mission – a calling that resonated with her heart and soul. “Cancer is my new job, and Cervivor is the platform in which I can help others,” she proclaimed.

Jenn’s dedication extended beyond the digital realm of Cervivor. Despite her ongoing treatments and the physical toll they took, she actively participated in initiatives like the Cervical Cancer Awareness Month planning committee, demonstrating her commitment to raising awareness about cervical cancer. Her advocacy work was not confined to boardrooms or meeting halls; even from her hotel room in the midst of recovery, she continued to lend her voice to the cause.

One of the remarkable qualities that defined Jenn was her passion for helping others navigate the complex landscape of clinical trials. In her role as a patient advocate, she enlightened others on the intricacies of these trials and offered a sign of hope, showing that there were still options for those in the throes of this relentless and unforgiving disease.

While facing multiple recurrences of cervical cancer, Jenn refused to let it impede her mission. She remained an active participant in Cervivor, utilizing various platforms – news interviews, panels, and patient advocate roles – to share her story and bring about change. She served on the National Cancer Institute’s Cervical Cancer Task Force, was an American Association for Cancer Research member and was featured in their 2022 annual report to Congress. Her voice echoed through fundraising efforts, turning her own birthday into a donation drive to support Cervivor’s Comfort Care and Compassion Program as well as gathering her family to do multiple unique fundraisers in her honor — a true testament to her compassion and commitment to the cause.

Even as Jenn continued her journey through cervical cancer, she never stopped spreading awareness about the importance of HPV vaccination and the realities of living with this disease. She shared her story with candor, honesty, and a desire that anyone facing cervical cancer would find the same support and camaraderie she discovered within Cervivor. Jenn was acknowledged with the 2022 Cervivor Champion Recipient, the 2022 Erica Frazier Stum Living with Cancer Recipient and was a 2023 Cervivor School Graduate.

In early 2024, Jenn along with her family established The Nennie Foundation. Jenn was lovingly known as ‘Nennie’ to her nieces and nephews. The nonprofit was developed to help cancer patients by assisting them financially with their cancer journey. Jenn was blessed to be able to navigate her journey financially unlike many others in the same situation. The Nennie Foundation will provide grants to cancer patients who face financial challenges in accessing healthcare. These “small acts of kindness” represent how Jenn liked to shower her family and friends with small gifts as thank yous, get well or milestone celebrations. It was Jenn’s wish that no flowers be sent but instead to consider donations to the Nennie Foundation to help as many cancer patients as possible in her honor.

Jennifer Walker Myers may have left this world, but her legacy lives on. She leaves behind a trail of inspiration, advocacy, and hope that will continue to guide and uplift those who follow in her footsteps. Today, we honor a true Cervivor, a symbol of strength and resilience, and a woman whose impact on the fight against cervical cancer will forever be etched in our hearts.