FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 1, 2009

Media Contact:
ASHA Media Relations
P.O. Box 13827
Research Triangle Park, NC 27709
Fred Wyand
(919) 361 - 3124 (voice)
(919) 361 - 8425 (fax)
mediarelations@ashastd.org

ASHA Recognizes January as Cervical Cancer Awareness Month RTP, NC-- The American Social Health Association (ASHA), along with a number of other public health organizations, recognizes January as Cervical Cancer Awareness Month and stresses the need for women to be educated about the disease and to have access to screening tests and, when recommended, HPV vaccines.

The American Cancer Society estimates that each year in the U.S. there are approximately 11,000 cases of cervical cancer, resulting in nearly 3,900 deaths. These numbers are especially tragic given the availability of proven prevention tools.

Cervical cancer is most often found among women who have either never had a Pap test (either alone or in combination with an HPV test), or have gone many years without one. In both the U.S. and around the world, the disease disproportionately impacts poor women. ASHA President and CEO Lynn B. Barclay says in addition to poverty, women often face cultural and infrastructure barriers that make healthcare difficult to obtain.

“Science has put us in a remarkable position to protect women from cervical cancer, but technology is only half the battle,” Barclay says. “Beyond paying for healthcare, women face obstacles that include stigma around sexual healthcare. It’s critical we make sure that women, their communities, and policy makers all understand how important it is for women to have access to screening tests and vaccines.”

ASHA’s National HPV & Cervical Cancer Prevention Resource Center addresses these challenges by offering numerous programs that include national advocacy, publications, and interactive HPV message boards that provide education and support. The Center was created in 2000 to address the multiple issues associated with HPV and cervical cancer prevention in the United States.

ASHA's publications include brochures (including patient education brochures like Ask How You Can Prevent Cervical Cancer) and HPV NEWS, a bi-monthly electronic journal that provides information on cervical cancer prevention, genital warts, the latest on research, vaccines, and treatment information. A one-year subscription to HPV NEWS is just $25.00 and may be ordered online.

The American Social Health Association (ASHA) is a not-for-profit organization founded in 1914 to improve the health of individuals, families, and communities, with a focus on educating about and preventing sexually transmitted infections. ASHA's educational web sites include: www.ASHAstd.org , www.iwannaknow.org (teen site), and www.quierosaber.org (Spanish language teen site).