Cervical Cancer & HPV

Louisiana has one of the highest cervical cancer death rates in the country – and that’s from a largely preventable disease! Regular screening, plus the HPV vaccine – which stops it and other cancers in both women and men – can wipe the disease out.

Cervical Cancer & HPV

Fighting Cervical and Other HPV-Related Cancers

No one should ever die from cervical cancer, which is why we provide no-cost Pap tests to Louisiana women who qualify. We also educate people at all levels – including parents, doctors, the general public and more – to make sure boys and girls are getting the HPV vaccine to prevent cancers (including cervical) after they’re grown.

What We Do

The Louisiana Breast and Cervical Health Program (LBCHP) provides no-cost breast and cervical cancer screenings (including mammograms and Pap tests) to Louisiana women who qualify.

If you are uninsured, cannot afford the copay, lack transportation, or face a barrier of any kind, please contact us. Our patient navigators are standing by to help. Visit the site for more information and to find out if you are eligible.

One of the best and easiest ways to fight cervical cancer (and other HPV-related cancers) is the HPV vaccine. Now that we have a vaccine that actually prevents cancer, LCP is working in a variety of ways to make people – whether its parents, medical providers, the general public and more – understand how important it is for girls and boys to get the HPV vaccine.

These efforts include:

  • Studying doctors with high vaccination rates to create handy infographics that can help other medical providers have the same success. You can view these infographics on our Materials Page, or contact us for one today.
  • Creating awareness and educational materials aimed at a variety of audiences to improve HPV vaccination rates.
  • Studying more effective ways to test for HPV.
  • And much more!

Cervical Cancer Facts

No Woman Should Ever Die of Cervical Cancer.

Cervical cancer is easy to catch in its early (precancerous) stage. Regular screening is the best way to find the cancer early.

Louisiana Has One of the Highest Cervical Cancer Death Rates in the U.S.

That means too many women aren’t getting screened. Encourage all the women in your life to get screened regularly.

Women Should Start Getting Screened at 21.

And should be screened regularly after. Symptoms of cervical cancer don’t usually show until the cancer is in a later stage. It is important that women start getting screened at age 21 and continue getting screened through age 64. Experts differ on exactly how often a woman should get screened, but Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (our major funder) says the following:

  • Age 21-29. Pap test (cytology) every 3 years, regardless of whether someone is sexually active or other risk factors.
  • Age 30-64. Pap test (cytology) with HPV co-test every 5 years OR Pap test every 3 years.
  • Women under age 21, non high-risk women over 64 who have been screened regularly up to that age, and non high-risk women without a cervix do not need to be screened.

If you would like to see other health organization guidelines on cervical cancer screening, download this PDF from CDC.

One of the Best Ways to Fight Cervical Cancer is with the HPV Vaccine.

Both men and women are affected by the types of cancer HPV can cause. Vaccinating your child is the easiest way to prevent those cancers.

HPV Facts

HPV is Short for Human Papillomavirus.

HPV is a group of more than 150 related viruses that are transmitted through intimate skin-to-skin contact.

HPV is Common.

HPV is so common that nearly all men and women get it at some point in their lives. While most people will never know they have it, in others the HPV virus can lead to cancer. About 14 million people, including teens, become infected with HPV each year.

HPV Causes Many Types of Cancer.

Cancers caused by HPV include:

  • Mouth/throat (oropharyngeal) cancer in both men and women
  • Cancers of the cervix, vulva and vagina in women
  • Cancer of the penis in men
  • Cancer of the anus in both men and women

Several thousand U.S. men and women are diagnosed with an HPV-related cancer each year.

There Is No Test for Most HPV-Related Cancers.

For women – a Pap test can detect most cases of cervical cancer. However, at this time, there is no routine screening or test for other HPV-related cancers, in women or men. That’s why it’s so important to prevent infection with HPV vaccination.

HPV Vaccines Protect Against These Cancers.

It is the only vaccine available today that actually prevents cancer.

Both Boys and Girls Should Get the HPV Vaccine.

Like other vaccines, the HPV vaccine is given to children to get the best immunological response. This also ensures they are protected before they ever have sex. The HPV vaccine is recommended for girls, age 11-26 and boys, age 11-21, who have not yet been vaccinated. If your daughter or son hasn’t started or didn’t finish the HPV vaccine series – it’s not too late. Talk to their doctor now.

Getting Vaccinated

  • GNO Immunization Network provides vaccines to children in Orleans, Jefferson, St. Bernard, St. Tammany and St. Charles Parishes, including the HPV vaccine. Eligible children include those without insurance; with insurance that does not cover vaccines; children with Medicaid and LaChip; and children with private insurance supplemented with Medicaid. The Network operates in a number of New Orleans public schools. The HPV vaccine is also available to women over 18 for a fee or on a sliding scale. Call 504-733-3268 for more information.
  • Planned Parenthood provides HPV vaccines in Baton Rouge and New Orleans. Call 1-800-230-7526 (PLAN) for more information.
  • HealthCare.gov states “Most health plans must cover a set of preventive services – like shots and screening tests – at no cost to you.” This includes HPV vaccination; though the service must be done by a doctor or provider in your plan’s network. Visit HealthCare.gov for a list of preventive services available with no co-payment or coinsurance and without having to meet your yearly deductible.

Keep Reading

Every five years, we partner with other state health organizations to produce the Louisiana Comprehensive Cancer Control Plan (aka “The State Cancer Plan”). This extensive document contains statistics on preventable cancers, as well as screening recommendations, goals, objectives, and strategies to beat cancer. Download a copy here.

Want to see cervical cancer data specific to Louisiana? Our fellow organization, The Louisiana Tumor Registry (LTR) is one of the top-ranked cancer registries in the United States. It is housed at the LSU Health New Orleans School of Public Health (right alongside us here at LCP). The data they provide helps us better understand these diseases. It also becomes part of the national cancer statistics which help determine funding, policy, and research. Visit their site to learn more.

What your Community is Doing

Louisiana Healthy Communities Coalitions

LHCCs are grassroots organizations working locally to help communities make healthy choices. Chronic diseases like cancer, heart disease, stroke, and diabetes are what most people die of – and tobacco use and obesity are the leading causes of chronic disease. Louisiana communities are deciding for themselves how they want to fight chronic disease and we are there to help. LCP provides resources to these grassroots organizations, whether they’re trying to go smoke-free or creating more bike lanes. Learn More on the Louisiana Healthy Communities Coalition site.