Imagine a deadly disease that takes the lives of women as young as 30, and continues to claim lives into their 40s, 50s, and even 80s. Now imagine you could help prevent it. Cervical cancer is a silent killer, but the good news is it’s largely preventable.
Cervical Cancer Awareness Week (10-16 November 2024) is the Australian Cervical Cancer Foundation’s (ACCF) yearly campaign to spread awareness. This year’s theme is “The Power of Choice.” The key message? You have more choices than ever to protect yourself from cervical cancer. It’s time to take control and share this life-saving information with your loved ones.
Prevention is Easier Than Ever in Australia
With changes to Australia’s cervical cancer prevention programs, it’s now easier to stay protected. Here’s how:
- Cervical Screening: Women aged 25-74 only need to get screened every 5 years. You can even choose to collect your own sample for a more comfortable experience. Just ask your doctor or nurse.
- HPV Vaccination: The HPV vaccine is free for those aged 12 to 25. It’s offered to boys and girls in schools around age 12-13 and helps prevent 90% of cervical and other cancers. If you missed out, you can still get vaccinated through your GP until age 25.
For more information, visit www.accf.org.au.
Get Involved: Host an Orange Hearts Fundraiser
Help spread awareness by hosting a fun event to support the ACCF’s Orange Hearts program, which assists women and their families through their cervical cancer journey. Whether it’s at work or home, a morning or afternoon tea with some delicious treats can make a big difference.
Here are two event ideas:
- Host a Tea Party: Serve orange cake or pumpkin scones and ask your friends or colleagues to chip in a small donation. All funds raised will go to the Orange Hearts program.
- Recipes to Try:
In the Philippines: Spread the Word
Share this message with your friends and family in the Philippines. Encourage them to book a cervical screening test, especially if they’ve never had one. Why not make it a group outing? Book appointments together, then go out and celebrate afterwards!
While HPV vaccines aren’t free in the Philippines, they are available for around 5,000 pesos (about $80-90 USD). Some free vaccine programs are starting in poorer areas, and there’s hope for more in the coming years. You can help by advocating for these programs to be expanded.
The World Health Organization reports that Filipino women die from cervical cancer at 10 times the rate of Australian women. However, thanks to ACCF’s partnership with the Cervical Cancer Prevention Network (CECAP) and the Department of Health, progress is being made. In Northern Samar, one of the poorest and most rural provinces, a project in Catarman is providing screening and treatment. Since 2015, over 100 local health workers have been trained, helping bring life-saving cervical screenings to remote villages.
For more information, contact ACCF Director Joe Tooma at 0419 481 472 or joe.tooma@accf.org.au.
Let’s work together to make cervical cancer a thing of the past!
