Women’s health is in focus as it’s Cervical Cancer Awareness Month

Posted on January 12, 2023
State Rep. Dagmara Avelar (D-Bolingbrook) is one of several women in the Illinois General Assembly promoting January as Cervical Cancer Awareness Month. (WJBC File Photo)

By Dave Dahl

SPRINGFIELD – If you have a cervix, you need to get a PAP smear.

That’s what a number of women lawmakers said during a news conference promoting preventive health during this Cervical Cancer Awareness Month.

“Cervical cancer occurs when abnormal cells in the cervix grow out of control. but changes in the cells – found early – can be successfully treated in nearly all cases,” said State Rep. Dagmara Avelar (D-Bolingbrook). “That’s why routine screening and early detection when it comes to cervical cancer.”

Another lawmaker, State Rep. Anna Moeller (D-Elgin), said preventive care and early detection are credited for “significant declines in cervical cancer mortality over the past forty years. “However, we know in 2012, nearly eight million women ages 21-65 reported they had not been screened in the past five years.”

Dave Dahl can be reached at [email protected].

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