'Ending Cervical Cancer in our Lifetime'
                                                      National Lieutenant Governors Association
                                                                          Connecticut

Monday, January 14, 2008                                       Connecticut Department of Public Health

For Immediate Release                                             William Gerrish

                                                                                    (860) 509-7270

Department of Public Health Urges Connecticut Women to Be Screened for Cervical Cancer

Hartford – The Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH), as part of Cervical Screening Month, reminds women in Connecticut to schedule their annual cervical cancer screening and urges those who have not been screened in the past year to schedule a screening as well.

In the United States, there were an estimated 11,150 new cases of cervical cancer and 3,670 deaths in 2007.  Cervical cancer once was the leading cause of cancer death for women in the United States.  However, during the past four decades, incidence and mortality (the number of deaths each year) from cervical cancer have declined significantly, primarily because of the widespread use of the Papanicolaou (Pap) test to detect cervical abnormalities. 

“Although the number of new cases of cervical cancer has declined over the years, we are still losing too many lives,” stated DPH Commissioner, J. Robert Galvin, M.D., M.P.H., M.B.A.  “Going for regular Pap tests can help detect cervical cancer early and save lives.”

Cervical cancer can usually be prevented if precancerous cervical lesions are found through Pap tests and treated.  About half of the women in the United States who develop cervical cancer have never had a Pap test.  Regular Pap tests decrease a woman's risk for developing cervical cancer because they can detect precancerous cervical lesions at early, treatable stages.  Cervical cancer screening should begin approximately three years after a woman begins having sexual intercourse, but no later than at 21 years old.

Cervical cancer screenings are available at no charge through the Department’s Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program for eligible women.  For more information on the program, please visit the DPH website at www.ct.gov/dph and select “Breast and Cervical Cancer” under “Featured Links” or call the Department of Public Health at (860) 509-7804.

The Connecticut Department of Public Health is the state’s leader in public health policy and

advocacy with a mission to protect and promote the health and safety of the people of our state. 

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For Immediate Release

For More Information

Laura Fanelli, Director of Public Affairs

860-524-7317/860-622-1278

Lieutenant Governor Michael Fedele To Hold Press Conferences Promoting Cervical Cancer Awareness and Prevention

Lieutenant Governor Michael Fedele will be holding four press conferences at hospitals around the state on Wednesday, January 16, 2008. The press conferences are part of a nationwide public service campaign spearheaded by the National Lieutenant Governors Association encouraging women to be aware of what causes cervical cancer and to get screened regularly.

“Cervical cancer is the second most common form of cancer found in women,” said Lieutenant Governor Fedele. “Some people may say it’s a women’s issue but I will further qualify that statement: it is a women’s health issue but it is a human issue. I have women in my life that are very important to me—as everyone does. I want them to take care of their health and support them in every way I can—as a husband, a father and a friend.”

State Representative DebraLee Hovey will be joining Lieutenant Governor Fedele for all the press conferences. Representative Hovey has been instrumental in offering legislation to increase awareness and expand cervical cancer screening opportunities for women across the state.

Department of Public Health has also issued a press release (attached here) encouraging women to get tested. Department of Public Health Commissioner Galvin and Deputy Commissioners along with hospital officials will be on hand at at all the press conferences to answer questions and discuss programs promoting awareness and prevention.

The press conference schedule for the day is as follows:

UCONN Health Center Keller Lobby              9:00 a.m.

Yale–New Haven Hospital                              11:00 a.m.

Bridgeport Hospital Cancer Center                  1:30 p.m.

Stamford Hospital Bennett Cancer Center       3:30 p.m.

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