• E-mail
• Print
• Comment
• Font Size
• Digg
• del.icio.us
• Discuss article

Illinois Women State Legislators Push for Increased Awareness of Cervical Cancer and the Human Papillomavirus

Posted on: Tuesday, 12 July 2005, 18:01 CDT

CHICAGO, July 12 /PRNewswire/ -- Following the recent creation of Illinois's Cervical Cancer Elimination Task Force, women state legislators today called for increased public awareness of cervical cancer, the virus that causes it and new technologies that can help prevent it, at a legislative briefing held here by Women In Government. Senate Majority Leader Debbie Halvorson (D-40th District) co-hosted the event and spoke of her own battle with cervical cancer and how women can better protect themselves. She was joined by Rep. Patricia Bellock (R-47th District), Sharon Green, Deputy Director of the State Office of Women's Health, and others.

"No woman should receive a cervical cancer diagnosis or, worse, die from this disease," said Sen. Halvorson, who underwent a radical hysterectomy in 2002 after being diagnosed with cervical cancer. "Women need to be better informed about cervical cancer and the human papillomavirus, or HPV, which causes it, so they can be more vigilant about getting regular screenings. They should also be screened with the most accurate and appropriate screening techniques available, such as HPV testing."

Cervical cancer rates have declined due in large part to widespread screening with the Pap test. The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), however, estimated that in 2004, 750 Illinois women would be diagnosed with cervical cancer and 230 women would die. When abnormal cells are identified and treated early, cervical cancer can be prevented. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently approved a test for HPV, which could help to further reduce the number of deaths.

Illinois's Cervical Cancer Elimination Task Force, enacted in August 2004, is charged with educating the public about cervical cancer and HPV, as well as identifying prevention and control strategies and technologies, for Illinois women. Sen. Halvorson and Rep. Sara Feigenholtz (D-12th District) sponsored the legislation creating the task force, which is overseen by the IDPH.

Sen. Halvorson's interest in this issue stems from her personal experience and from her involvement in the national Challenge to Eliminate Cervical Cancer Campaign, launched in 2004 by Women In Government, a Washington, DC- based organization representing state-level elected women officials. The organization's bipartisan membership seeks to eliminate cervical cancer and is engaging legislators nationwide who can help achieve this goal. To date, bills or resolutions addressing cervical cancer prevention have been introduced in 42 states and enacted in 32 states.

"Given that medical experts now know that HPV causes cervical cancer and that new technologies such as HPV testing -- and eventually an HPV vaccine -- exist, we have a real opportunity to make cervical cancer the first women's cancer we can eliminate," said Susan Crosby, executive director of Women In Government.

"Research shows that approximately half of all cervical cancers occur in women who have never been screened, and 10 percent in women who have not been screened in the last five years. However, 40 percent of new cervical cancer cases are in women who have been screened periodically. Research shows that the Pap is only 51 percent to 85 percent accurate at identifying women needing early intervention to stop the disease. An FDA-approved test for HPV increases this accuracy to almost 100 percent when used with a Pap in women 30 and older," said Marie Savard, M.D., a nationally-known internist and women's health expert.

In 2003, Women In Government established a Cervical Cancer Elimination Task Force to identify ways state officeholders can facilitate better education and prevention programs for women. In August 2004, it launched its HPV & Cervical Cancer Policy Resource Center, designed to serve as a clearinghouse for legislators to share ideas, draft legislation and obtain information.

Women In Government is a national 501(c)(3), non-profit, bi-partisan organization of women state legislators providing leadership opportunities, networking, expert forums and educational resources to address and resolve complex public policy issues. For more information, visit http://www.womeningovernment.org/.

CONTACT: Tracy Morris (O) 650-473-1272; (Cell) 650-380-4413 tracy@morrismarcom.com

Women In Government

CONTACT: Tracy Morris, +1-650-473-1272, (Cell) +1-650-380-4413, ortracy@morrismarcom.com, for Women In Government

Web site: http://www.womeningovernment.org/

Source: PRNewswire

More News in this Category