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4 - The Savannah Tribune • Wednesday, January 20, 2010
HEALTH AND COMMUNITY NEWS
Cervical Cancer and HPV:
What You Should Know
Teddy Pendergrass Dead at 59
Teddy Pendergrass
January is National
Cervical Cancer Awareness
Month, and the American
Cancer Society estimates
that 11,270 new cases of cer
vical cancer will be diag
nosed and about 4,070
women will die from it here
in the United States.
The number of deaths
caused by cervical cancer
has declined significantly
mostly because of the use of
the Pap test (Pap smear).
However, the disease still
remains a serious threat
especially in African
American, Hispanic and
Asian women as well as in
women who are low income
and have no insurance.
Cervical cancer is easy to
prevent and highly curable
when detected and treated
early.
What is cervical can
cer? Cervical cancer is can
cer that starts in the cervix,
which is the lower part of the
uterus or the womb. Usually
the cancer grows slowly and
many women do not know
they have the disease
because they do no have any
symptoms.
The main cause of the
disease is a virus called
human papillomavirus
(HPV), which is spread
through sex and causes
changes in the cervix.
Almost 99% of all cervical
cancers are caused by HPV.
Most HPV infections do not
have symptoms and most
people do not even know
they are infected. Majority of
the time, HPV infections
clear up on its’ own and do
not cause cancer. However, if
the infection does not go
away, it can cause the normal
cells in the cervix to become
precancerous. Pre-cancer
cells do not always turn into
cancer and most will return
to normal. If they are not
found and treated, the pre
cancer cells may turn into
cancer.
The only way to fully
prevent HPV infection is
through abstaining from sex
ual activity. Another way to
prevent infection is through
the HPV vaccine, which was
approved by the Food and
Drug Administration in
2006. The vaccine protects
against HPV types 16 and
18, the two types that cause
70% of cervical cancer. The
vaccine is recommended for
girls and women ages 11 to
26. The American Cancer
Society recommends that
women talk to their doctor
about whether the vaccine is
right for them.
All women are at risk
for cervical cancer. There are
certain risk factors that
increase a woman’s chance
of getting the disease. In
addition to HPV infection,
other risk factors include
smoking, having HIV or any
disease that affects the
body’s immune system,
Chlamydia infection, and
long-term use of birth con
trol. Having multiple sexual
partners and having sex at an
early age may also increase
the chances of getting cervi
cal cancer. Early detection is
the key to preventing and
treating cervical cancer.
Cervical cancer screening
using the Pap test is the most
effective and reliable form of
prevention. Getting regular
Pap tests can save your life.
The Pap test locates pre-can
cer and abnormal cells that
may become cancerous if not
found early and left untreat
ed. The HPV test can also be
used to find change in the
cells in the cervix.
Some simple guidelines
for cervical cancer screening
by the American Cancer
Society are as follows: All
women should begin getting
annual Pap tests about 3
years after they become sex
ually active but no later than
age 21; starting at age 30,
women who have had nor
mal Pap tests 3 years in a
row should get screened
every 2-3 years; women 70
years or older who have had
normal Pap tests at least 3
years in a row and no abnor
mal tests in the last 10 years
can stop being screened;
however, you should talk to
your doctor or other health
care professional to deter
mine how often you should
have a Pap test.
For more information
on cervical cancer, Pap tests,
HPV and free or low-cost
screening in your communi
ty, visit www.cancer.org or
call 1-800-227 -2345.
Special to the NNPA
from the Afro-American
Newspapers
Legendary R & B
singer and songwriter
Teddy Pendergrass, popu
lar for his classic R&B hits
“Turn Off the Lights” and
“Love T.K.O,” died Jan. 13
at the Bryn Mawr Hospital
in Philadelphia. He was 59.
His son, Teddy
Pendergrass II, told the
Philadelphia Inquirer his
father underwent colon
surgery eight months ago
and was going through a
"difficult recovery," but
that his father would "live
on through his music."
Born March 26, 1950,
in Philadelphia,
Pendergrass’ climb to
superstardom began with
Harold Melvin and the
Blue Notes.
In 1977, he launched a
self-titled solo album, and
went on to earn numerous
platinum albums and a
Grammy nomination.
Pendergrass ush
ered in a new, electric era of
R&B that blended passion,
raw sexuality and romance
into an eclectic sub-genre
of R&B music.
Donning skin-tight,
multicolored pants; chest
baring blazers and a bevy of
gold chains, Pendergrass
laid the blueprint for
today’s urban music sex
symbols.
But tragedy struck the
crooner in 1982 after an
automobile accident left
him paralyzed from the
waist down.
Despite the devastating turn
of events, Pendergrass con
tinued to record music and
returned to the stage in
1985 for a Live Aid concert
in Philadelphia.
In 1998, Pendergrass
founded the Teddy
Pendergrass Alliance, a
national organization dedi
cated to improving the lives
of individuals with spinal
cord injuries.
His investment in
community service and
other civic issues trans
formed Pendergrass’ image
from a magnetic ladies man
to a philanthropic activist
celebrated for his aplomb in
the face of adversity.
“Good Health and Good Sense are Two of
Life’s Greatest Blessings.”
-Publilius Syrus
You re nv ted...
Congress on USMB
the Corner iSj
arrow!
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Congressman Barrow is hosting
Congress on the Corner
Saturday, January 23, 2010, 9:00 a.m. -11:00 a.m.
American Legion Post 184
1 Legion Drive (at Rowland Avenue), Thunderbolt
Come on out to meet with Congressman Barrow, discuss what's been going on in
Washington, or get help with questions or concerns about a particular government agency