“TEXAS TECH UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES CENTER EL PASO AND THE COMMUNITY COUNCIL OF SOUTH CENTRAL TEXAS, INC. COLLABORATE TO IMPROVE CERVICAL CANCER RATES”

In response to low cervical cancer screening in our area, we are joining forces to provide education and free cervical cancer screening to our community and surrounding counties.

Cervical cancer is one of the most common cancer deaths among American women. The American Cancer Society estimates in 2021 in the U.S there will be 14,480 new cases of invasive cancer that will be diagnosed and 4,290 women will die from cervical cancer.

According to the State Cancer Profiles, the U.S incidence rate of cervical cancer is 7.6 per 100,000 compared to Texas’ 9.2 per 100,000 population. In Uvalde County, the incidence rate is substantially higher compared to the national and state averages, ranging between 11.1 – 14.8 per 100,000.

Racial and ethnic disparities also exist. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, for every 100,000 women who are diagnosed with HPV-associated cervical cancer, 7 are non-Hispanic White women, 8 are Black/African American, and 9 are Hispanic.

Cervical cancer death rates drop significantly with increased use of pap smears because this test can find cancer early when it is treatable and can find abnormal cells before they even develop into cancer.

Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center-El Paso and the Community Council of South Central Texas, Inc. will be providing free cervical cancer education and screening to eligible women in the following counties: Uvalde, Edwards- Rocksprings, LaSalle-Cotulla, Val Verde-Del Rio, Real- Camp Wood and Leakey, Zavala-Crystal City, Dimmit-Carrizo Springs, Kinney-Brackettville, and Maverick-Eagle Pass. Women between 21 and 65 years, with a valid Texas address, who are uninsured or under insured, have not had cervical cancer in the past or a hysterectomy, and have not had a pap smear in the last three years may be eligible. Call Monica Escobar, De Casa en Casa Health Outreach Coordinator today for more information at (830) 333-9414 or at MESCOBAR@CCSCT.ORG.