NBNA Supports National HPV and Cervical Cancer Campaign

• In commemoration of January as Cervical Cancer Month, the National HPV & Cervical Cancer Campaign announced new guidelines to assist the over 2 million women every year who are diagnosed with mild abnormalities following routine cervical cancer screening.
     
• The guidelines advocate testing for the human papillomavirus (HPV) as the most effective screening method following an inconclusive Pap test.
     
• Developed by the American Medical Women's Association (AMWA), the campaign's leading partner, the guidelines provide critical health information and raise awareness about the causal link between HPV and cervical cancer and the importance of regular, effective cervical cancer screening.
     
• Every year in the United States, approximately 12,900 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer and 4,400 unnecessarily die of the disease. Worldwide, cervical cancer affects 400,000 women annually, and in some parts of the world, cervical cancer is the most common cancer in women. With education and regular screening, most cases of cervical cancer can be prevented.
     
• HPV is recognized as the cause of essentially all cervical cancer, and is present in virtually all cases of cervical cancer. A study conducted by the National Cancer Institute confirmed that HPV testing is the most effective way to manage women with ASCUS, providing a highly sensitive means of identifying abnormalities that need immediate attention.
     
• The medical dilemma of how to treat a patient with ASCUS (atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance), or mildly abnormal Pap tests, has long been a major source of anxiety for both patients and clinicians. The National HPV & Cervical Cancer Campaign's recommendations provide specific information for women diagnosed with ASCUS. The guidelines include:
  • Important health information on HPV and cervical cancer
  • What women should know about ASCUS
  • Screening options for ASCUS and cost estimates

	Women deserve access to the best and most accurate testing methods available so that they can make the most appropriate health care decisions for themselves. We believe these guidelines will enable women to become true partners in determining the best follow-up option in the event of an inconclusive Pap test result.
	Throughout the month of January, the campaign partners will engage in various activities to promote Cervical Cancer Month and will disseminate the new guidelines to women across the country.
	With a goal of reaching over 5 million women during the month of January, the campaign with its partner, America Online, will utilize the power of the internet to also distribute these guidelines and a health care message as part of its annual internet campaign.
	The lack of awareness continues to contribute to unnecessary cervical cancer deaths among women worldwide. Through education, we can improve the quality of life for all women.
	The initiative to combat cervical cancer has engaged the collective voice of a number of founding partners including: America Online, American Cancer Society - Mid Atlantic Division, American College of Nurse-Midwives, American Medical Women's Association, American Social Health Association, Association of Reproductive Health Professionals, AWHONN, Business and Professional Women, Cancer Research Foundation of America, National Alliance for Hispanic Health, National Asian Women's Health Organization, National Black Nurses Association, National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship, National Council of La Raza, National Education Association Health Information Network, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, the Society for Women's Health Research and the Young Women's Christian Association.
	The National HPV & Cervical Cancer Campaign, a cooperative effort between AMWA and its partners, is a program designed to inform women about the importance of regular cervical cancer screening, the link between HPV and cervical cancer, existing and new methods to detect cervical cancer, and to provide them with information that will enable them to discuss the disease with their healthcare provider. The goal of the Campaign is to reduce the number of preventable deaths caused each year by cervical cancer through increased education and outreach.
	The National HPV & Cervical Cancer Campaign has received an unrestricted educational grant from Digene Corporation.

For more information about the campaign, please visit the web site: www.hpvandcervicalcancercampaign.org or call (202) 530-4884.