On January 7, 2025, Governor Jim Pillen proclaimed the month of January as Cervical Cancer Prevention Month. While cervical cancer continues to impact women across Nebraska, early detection and prevention efforts are saving lives. There is hope for a future where no woman dies from this preventable disease.
The key to reducing cervical cancer rates lies in prevention, early detection, and education. Cervical cancer is largely preventable through regular Pap tests which provide an effective means of detecting precancerous changes. Early detection allows for timely treatment, helping to increase a woman’s chance of survival. The Department of Health and Human Services encourages women to schedule regular Pap tests and discuss other preventive measures such as the HPV vaccine with their healthcare providers, to dramatically lower the risk of developing cervical cancer.
According to the American Cancer Society Cancer Facts and Figures, in 2024, there were an estimated 13,820 cervical cancer cases diagnosed and 4,360 lives lost in the United States. In Nebraska, between 1992 and 2023, through the Every Woman Matters (EWM) Program, 99 women were diagnosed with invasive cervical cancers, and 3,694 women were diagnosed with cervical precancers. Despite these numbers, the outlook is far better for women who receive timely screenings and follow-up care. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the five-year relative survival rate for cervical cancer is 67 percent overall. However, that rate jumps to 91 percent when the disease is detected early, underscoring the importance of regular screening.
“No woman should be diagnosed with invasive cervical cancer or die from this disease,” said Dr. Timothy Tesmer, DHHS Chief Medical Officer. “DHHS is committed to providing education, resources, and access to screenings to ensure that every woman in Nebraska can protect herself from cervical cancer.”
An important resource for under or uninsured Nebraskans is the Every Woman Matters (EWM) program. EWM is a federally funded program that pays for office visits associated with Pap tests, pelvic exams, clinical breast exams, age-appropriate mammography, and diagnostic and follow-up tests. To be eligible for cervical cancer screening through EWM, women need to be aged 21-64 with household incomes at or below 250% of the federal poverty guidelines (i.e., a family of four could have a household income of up to $78,000) and with little to no health insurance. To enroll, women can fill out a Healthy Lifestyle Questionnaire: https://bit.ly/EWM-NCP-HLQ
Preventive health screenings are important. EWM is here for you so you can be there for your family and loved ones. To learn more about cervical cancer screening and diagnostic services in Nebraska, check out this fact sheet: https://dhhs.ne.gov/Documents/Cervical%20Fact%20Sheet.pdf
For more information, visit https://dhhs.ne.gov/Pages/Womens-and-Mens-Health.aspx or call 800-532-2227.