By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
Each year in America, more than 11,000 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer and more than 4,000 women will die from the disease. That does not have to be the case. January is Cervical Cancer Awareness Month. Lindsey Ensley, clinical nurse supervisor at the Barton County Health Department, said screenings can catch the cancer early.
"Cervical cancer is one that can be detected by a pap smear and it's really important to have those regular screenings," she said. "Cervical cancer, if caught early, can be very treatable. It's one of the most treatable cancers that can be had."
The Barton County Health Department offers a family planning program for reproductive health that includes Well Woman exams, pap smears, breast exams, and birth control. Women are recommended to get a pap smear at least every three years beginning at the age of 21. The health department also offers the HPV vaccine for males and females, who can get the vaccine as early as age nine.
"The main cause of cervical cancer is a virus that's called human papillomavirus virus, or HPV," Ensley said. "It's sexually transmitted and it can cause some abnormal cells on the cervix, which then can lead to cancer, so that screening is super important."
Screenings can be expensive. The health department accepts insurance for screenings and also offers the Early Detection Works program through the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. Women with no insurance who meet income standards may qualify for free screenings. Call (877)-277-1368 to see if you qualify for free screenings, or call the Barton County Health Department at (620) 793-1902 for more information about its family planning program.