Cervical Cancer and Latinas: Twitter Chat This Tuesday!

By Ricky Garza, Communications Department, NCLR

How does cervical cancer affect you?

Your answer might be “not very much,” but you should know that all Hispanic women are at higher risk of developing the disease after contracting human papillomavirus (HPV).  Fortunately, there are easy steps you can take to minimize your risk.

This Tuesday, January 22 at 5:00 p.m. EST, find out what those steps are when Cervical Cancer Free America and the Center of Excellence in Women’s Health at the University of Arizona Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health partners with us to host a Twitter chat on cervical cancer and Latinas.  Follow #LatinoHealth on Twitter to join the conversation and promote preventative practices in your community!

We’ll be talking about commonsense ways to protect yourself and your loved ones from contracting HPV, including getting vaccinated, getting regular Pap tests, always using a condom, not smoking, and limiting your number of sexual partners.  More than all other ethnic groups, Latinas suffer from disproportionate diagnosis and eventual death from cervical cancer, but that can be changed with increased Pap tests and preventative measures.

Now, as part of health care reform, most women should qualify for a free Pap test without a co-pay at least once every three years.  Today, about three out of four Latinas have had a test in the last three years.  Together we can reach 100%!

Join us and Cervical Cancer Free America on Tuesday to make cervical cancer history!