Asian American women have one of the highest rates of cervical cancer in the country. While incidence rates for all other major racial groups have fallen in recent years, rates of cervical cancer among Asian American women continue to show small but significant increases. The low rate of cervical cancer screenings is the leading cause of the high cervical cancer frequency in this population. Cultural and financial barriers along with a lack of education all contribute to the low screening rate. This is especially alarming because when detected early, cervical cancer is easily treatable.

The good news is there is now a vaccine that may help prevent cervical cancer. High risk types of the human papillomavirus (HPV) are the cause of cervical cancer.  GARDASIL is the first vaccine developed to guard against cervical cancer and other diseases in women caused by certain types of genital HPV. The vaccine protects against four HPV types, which together cause 70 percent of cervical cancers. Other factors such as a lack of obtaining Pap tests, weakened immune system and smoking also increase the likelihood that an HPV infection develops into cancer.

GARDASIL is for girls and women ages 9 to 26 years. It works when given before you have contact with any of the four HPV types. The vaccine may still be beneficial if you’ve already been infected with HPV since it is unlikely that you have been infected with all four types. GARDASIL is given as three injections over six months. The first is given at your initial appointment, the second is given two months later and the third dose is given four months after the second dose.

GARDASIL does not take the place of Pap tests. The Pap test is still the most important tool for early cervical cancer detection. It is a simple, painless test that checks for any abnormal cells on a woman’s cervix and takes only a few seconds. The doctor will use a tiny brush to wipe a sample of cells off the cervix and then send that sample to a lab for testing.

 

The American Cancer Society recommends that:

 

A woman should start getting yearly Pap tests at the age of 21 or three years after she starts having sex, whichever comes first.

Starting at the age of 30, a woman should talk to her doctor about how often to get a Pap test. Some women age 30 and older only need a Pap test every two or three years.

Women who have gone through menopause still need to get a Pap test.

Women who have had a hysterectomy should talk to their doctor about their need for getting a Pap test.

For more information about the HPV vaccine or to make an appointment, please call the KHEIR–S. Mark Taper Foundation Community Clinic at (213) 637-1070 from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.