Cervical cancer can be prevented through an effective and long-lasting vaccine, screening, and follow-up treatment. Yet Alabama has one of the highest cervical cancer mortality rates in the United States and consistently ranks in the top five states in cancer incidence. To address this serious public health problem, Alabama became the first state in the nation to undertake a statewide partnership and implement a statewide action plan to eliminate cervical cancer. Partners include universities, healthcare providers, community leaders, agencies, and organizations.
I am pleased to announce that Alabama’s effort to eliminate cervical cancer, OPERATION WIPE OUT, is featured in a documentary this month via PBS. Conquering Cervical Cancer US features activities in Alabama, Texas, and New York. For more information and to stream the documentary, go to the PBS website.
This impactful film highlights Alabama’s response to the global Call to Action to eliminate cervical cancer. OPERATION WIPE OUT is a statewide effort to engage and empower every Alabamian to share the news that cervical cancer can be stopped and to take the steps toward protecting our families, friends, and neighbors from this deadly cancer.
In order to WIPE OUT Cervical Cancer in the next decade, the three steps to follow are as follows:
1) Increase human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination. HPV causes cervical cancer. The vaccine protects against ever getting cervical cancer.
2) Increase cervical cancer screening -- HPV/Pap tests. Regular screening can prevent cervical cancer as well as identify cervical cancer and pre-cancer early, when it is easy to treat. Cervical cancer screening is available statewide through the Alabama Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program.
3) Appropriate follow-up to cervical cancer screening if recommended by the health care provider. It is important to return to your health care provider if your HPV/Pap test comes back abnormal.
The documentary shares the experiences of two inspiring Alabama women who are cervical cancer survivors, clinicians at ADPH who provide cervical cancer screening and follow-up services, school officials in Chambers County working together with students to increase HPV vaccination and screening, and activities undertaken by OPERATION WIPE OUT leaders. These leaders include Warner Huh, M.D, gynecologic oncologist; Isabel Scarinci, Ph.D., M.P.H., of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at UAB; Nancy Wright, M.P.H., Cancer Prevention and Control Division director; and the perspective of a leader in a non-profit organization (Dr. Heather White, TogetHER for Health). Similar powerful stories from New York and Texas are featured.
Conquering Cervical Cancer US was created by the Moonshine Agency, an Australian-based production company, whose ambition is to accelerate the elimination of cervical cancer worldwide. The Conquering Cancer Campaign can be followed at the official campaign website and on Instagram.
For more information on the statewide action plan to eliminate cervical cancer as a public health problem in Alabama, please visit operationwipeout.org or see the full plan on this website.
Scott Harris, M.D., M.P.H.