Jackson, Miss. — January is Cervical Cancer Awareness Month, and the Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) is highlighting the disease’s causes and the importance of early detection to save lives.
Cervical cancer is preventable yet often goes undetected until symptoms arise as the cancer spreads. There are about 11,500 new cases diagnosed each year in the United States, and about 4,000 women die of the disease, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Black women are 30 percent more likely to die of the disease than other women.
“Cervical cancer is often silent, which is why screening and early detection is key,” said AnnaLyn Whitt, Director of Health Services. “MSDH seeks to advance health and protect all Mississippians by filling in gaps and offering screenings statewide.”
The…