Cervical cancer unnecessarily kills more than 200 Pennsylvania women each year. Mammograms, pelvic examinations and Pap smears are an important part of preventive health care for women. At the luncheon, Mrs. Ridge also recognized the Pink Ribbon award winners, John H. Glick, M.D., director of the University of Pennsylvania Cancer Center, and Mike Fisher, State Attorney General. The Ridge Administration recently launched an advertising campaign designed to inform Pennsylvanians that cervical cancer is preventable through early detection. The campaign features women of all ages and races, emphasizing the fact that cervical cancer does not discriminate.
Cervical cancer is one of the most common cancers among women.
According to the American Cancer Society, most women with advanced, invasive cancer of the cervix have not had a Pap smear in five years. The Pennsylvania Department of Health recommends women follow American Cancer Society guidelines that advise all women 18 or older, or who are sexually active, to be screened for cervical cancer and have an annual check-up, including a pelvic examination and a Pap smear. Women should follow their physician's advice for subsequent care and treatment. Women who have had their uterus removed and those past menopause still need regular Pap tests. The Pap smear is a simple, painless test to detect abnormal cells in and around the cervix.