|
View this as a webpage
Join us online for our quarterly webinar
Join our Jan. 8 webinar from 12:10 – 1 p.m. to learn more about the Minnesota Cancer Reporting Systems (MCRS) Data Dashboards. Paula Lindgren, MS, Biostatistician at MCRS will highlight the different data included in the dashboards and how our partners can use them.
Cancer impacts some communities more than others in Minnesota. These interactive dashboards showcase how determinants of health impact cancer diagnoses and screening rates. The goal is to help our partners better understand trends and identify opportunities to increase screening and early detection of cancer. You can access these dashboards and other cancer statistics and reports on the Minnesota Cancer Reporting Systems Cancer Statistics and Reports webpage.
Join us online for our quarterly office hours
Join our Office Hours on Jan. 29 from 12:10 to 1 p.m. for a brief Sage Program overview and Q&A time. Office Hours will be informal with a focus on Sage Office Hours are intended for new clinic staff or clinic staff who need a refresher on the Sage Program.
Office Hours objectives:
- Program eligibility criteria is defined and reviewed.
- Sage covered services (both screening and diagnostic) are reviewed and explained.
- The required forms are reviewed.
- The process for following up on an abnormal screening result is explained.
- Billing information is provided.
Cervical Cancer Awareness Month (CCAM)
Per the American Cancer Society, cervical cancer is most often diagnosed in individuals between the ages of 35 and 44 (the average age at diagnosis is 50). Though it rarely develops in individuals younger than 20, the risk of developing cervical cancer is still present as you age. More than 20% of cervical cancer cases are found in individuals over 65. However, these cancers rarely occur in those who have been getting regular tests to screen for cervical cancer, such as a Pap test or HPV test.
Cervical cancer is the most common cancer linked to HPV in people with a cervix. Nearly all cervical cancers are caused by HPV. Cervical cancer can be found early and even prevented with routine screening tests. The Pap test looks for changes in cervical cells caused by HPV infection. The HPV test looks for the infection itself.
Sage is committed to advancing health equity and focusing its recruitment and outreach activities on populations in most need of screening services. The program is guided in its efforts by Minnesota’s cervical cancer disparities. Between 2015 and 2019, Minnesota’s American Indian population were nearly three times as likely as the state’s non-Hispanic White population to be diagnosed with cervical cancer, and Minnesota’s Asian population was three times more likely to die from the disease compared to the non-Hispanic White population. Furthermore, Asian individuals have the lowest cervical cancer screening rate in the state. (Data from MCRS Factsheet)
The Sage Program can help pay for routine cervical cancer screening and diagnostic services for eligible people between the ages of 30-64. Patients can call the Sage Phone Center at 1-888-643-2584 or visit the Sage website to find out if they qualify.
The USPSTF recently released an updated draft recommendation for cervical cancer screening.
The draft recommendation can be viewed at the link below. The public comment period is open until Jan. 13, 2025.
Draft Recommendation: Cervical Cancer: Screening | United States Preventive Services Taskforce
According to the USPSTF, current cervical cancer screening recommendations for average risk individuals ages 21 to 29 include a Pap test every three years. For average risk individuals ages 30 to 65, screening recommendations include an HPV test every five years, a Pap test every three years, or co-testing (combined HPV and Pap test every five years).
The Task Force does not recommend screening for average risk individuals younger than 21, those older than 65 who have had regular screenings with normal test results, or those of any age who have had a total hysterectomy.
Tips to encourage your patients to get screened
- Patient reminders
- Host a ‘Pappy Hour’ event
- Target ‘never screened’ or ‘overdue’ patients when scheduling Pap smears
- Make it a fun atmosphere with treats, prizes, educational materials, etc.
- Contact Sage to learn how we can help your clinic!
- Display data/reminders/trivia on your in-clinic TVs or on your clinic websites for the month of January!
- Social media engagement
- Make sure to follow the Minnesota Department of Health (@mnhealth) on Facebook, X, and Instagram to stay engaged and re-post cervical cancer awareness content!
|
Celebrate on January 16
In the United States, early detection and screening have greatly reduced the impact of cervical cancer among all women. However, cervical cancer continues to disproportionately affect Native communities, and Native women are over 1.5 times as likely to develop cervical cancer compared to White women. Join the fight against Indigenous cervical cancer burdens by turning Indian Country turquoise and spreading the word about the American Indian Cancer Foundation’s Turquoise Thursday campaign this January during National Cervical Health Awareness Month.
Take action by encouraging your relatives with a cervix to receive the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine and take the 2025 Turquoise Thursday Screening Pledge to schedule a cervical cancer screening— two crucial steps in combating cervical cancer.
Utilize the 2025 Turquoise Thursday Toolkit to share social media posts, apply a Policy, Systems, and Environmental (PSE) approach to increase screening, find AICAF resources and more!
Register for the upcoming AICAF webinar on Jan. 16 at noon – Empowering Wellness: Honoring Women and the Vital Role of HPV Vaccination in Community Health.
|
Cervical cancer diagnosis and treatment deeply impacts many people every year. In the United States, 11,500 new cases of cervical cancer are diagnosed every year, in people early as mid-to-late 20s. Lily was only 27 years old when she was diagnosed with HPV cervical cancer and endured radiation treatments and two rounds of chemotherapy which made her weak, very sick, and depressed.
There are many people in Minnesota whose stories are very similar to Lily’s, having received an unexpected cancer diagnosis or endured difficult cancer treatments. Some people even pass away from their battle with cervical cancer. In fact, recent data shows that Black, Asian, Hispanic, and American Indian Minnesotans are more likely to be diagnosed with cervical cancer than other races and Asian Minnesotans are more than two and a half times more likely to die from cervical cancer.
There are two main ways to prevent cervical cancer and other HPV cancers. First is by vaccinating on-time with the HPV vaccine. Parents and guardians of all children ages 9-12 should make a vaccination appointment with their provider to receive the HPV vaccine. The HPV vaccine series administered at an early age can protect your child from cancer later in life/in adulthood and is best administered within the 9-12 age range.
The second way to prevent late-stage cervical cancer is routine cervical cancer screenings starting at 21 years old. These screenings can help find cancer early on when it is more easily treated. Sage, Minnesota’s cancer screening program, provides free cervical cancer tests for Minnesotans 30 – 64 years of age that are un- or underinsured and meet income guidelines. People with health insurance should speak with their provider about scheduling routine cancer screenings.
A cervical cancer diagnosis can be devastating to a person’s life. Since receiving treatment and beating cervical cancer, Lily is officially cancer-free and has gotten married. Lily’s brave battle with cancer has led to her passion of educating communities on HPV vaccination and cervical cancers prevention.
Cervical and HPV cancer prevention starts early at age 9 with HPV vaccination. In adulthood, routine cancer screenings can help detect cancer so that it can be treated early. These two actions can help children protect their health and wellbeing and grow up to live cancer free lives.
For more information on HPV vaccine, visit: Human Papillomavirus (HPV) - MN Dept. of Health. For more details of Lily’s experience, visit: Lily's Story - Cervical Cancer Caused by HPV - MN Dept. of Health
For more information on Sage, call 1-888-6HEALTH (1-888-643-2584) or go to Sage Cancer Screenings to learn more or to speak with a patient navigator who can help connect you with services.
|
