cervical cancer

Uncas Health District in Your Community: Cancer Detection and Prevention

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During National Public Health Week, we’re highlighting some of the important work Uncas Health District does in our community. One of our key services is providing free, potentially life-saving screenings for individuals who might have trouble accessing these crucial medical services.

Cancer is a serious health concern, and one of the leading causes of death in the United States. Early detection is key in the fight against this serious illness, and we’re proud to partner with the state to make these screenings available.

 

The Power of Early Detection

Cancer can develop slowly, which is why regular medical check-ups are important for identifying their symptoms. Primary care physicians routinely order screenings for their patients in order to identify potential signs of cancer and track changes in the body over time.

If cancer is detected too late, there is a greater chance that it will have metastasized, or spread to other parts of the body. When this occurs, there is a much greater risk of serious illness or death.

Early screening allows cancer to be treated before it can progress. This not only means that the survival rate is improved, but also that it can be addressed with less invasive methods that improve one’s quality of life during treatment and recovery.

Unfortunately, people may not think that these screenings are accessible to them. This is most likely to occur when someone is uninsured or underinsured, or when they have a lower income and do not believe they can afford medical services.

 

Making Screenings More Accessible

Uncas Health District is a proud participant in the Connecticut Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program. This program offers free screening, diagnostic, and treatment referral services to medically underserved women. 

By setting up an appointment with the Uncas Health District, qualifying women can receive clinical breast exams, Pap smears, and mammograms at no cost. The services are available to qualifying women, including those living at or below 250% of poverty level or those who lack the necessary insurance to cover these screenings. Learn more about eligibility criteria here, and contact the Uncas Health District to schedule a screening.

The Uncas Health District also participates in the Connecticut Colorectal Cancer Control Program. This program aims to reduce disparities in colorectal cancer by providing free diagnostic services to identify signs that someone might have this cancer. The program is open to qualifying individuals 45 and older, including those with positive results from other colorectal cancer screenings.

 

Screening for Heart Disease

In our work with the Connecticut Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program, the Uncas Health District also helps identify potential heart disease risk factors. Women in this program can enroll in WISEWOMAN, which provides heart disease screenings for participants between the ages of 35 and 64.

A mammogram not only allows for the detection of potentially cancerous tissue in the breast, but also the presence of breast arterial calcification during mammograms. While this is typically not related to breast cancer, it can be a sign of cardiovascular disease. When breast arterial calcification is detected, it allows for early intervention against heart disease.

 

Take Control of Your Health

Don’t wait. Early detection can save lives. 

If you qualify for any of these programs, please reach out to the Uncas Health District today. Your health is our priority.

January is National Cervical Cancer Awareness Month — What You Need to Know

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woman with cervical cancer ribbon

January marks National Cervical Cancer Awareness Month. The American Cancer Society estimated there will have been about 13,960 new cases of invasive cancer diagnosed, and about 4,310 women will have died from cervical cancer in 2023. The 2020 CDC data for Connecticut shows there were 96 cases reported, equaling a cervical cancer rate of 4.8 per 100,000 women.

Anyone with a cervix is at risk for cervical cancer, increasing in people over the age of 30. Certain types of HPV are the main cause of cervical cancer. Screening tests and the HPV vaccine can help reduce the risk of cervical cancer. Click here to see more information about cervical cancer risk.

What is cervical cancer?

Cervical cancer starts in the cells lining the cervix — the lower part of the uterus (womb).

The cervix connects the body of the uterus (the upper part where a fetus grows) to the vagina (birth canal). Cancer starts when cells in the body begin to grow out of control.

The cervix is made of two parts and is covered with two different types of cells.

  • The endocervix is the opening of the cervix that leads into the uterus. It is covered with glandular cells.
  • The exocervix (or ectocervix) is the outer part of the cervix that can be seen by the doctor during a speculum exam. It is covered in squamous cells.

The place where these two cell types meet in the cervix is called the transformation zone. The exact location of the transformation zone changes as you get older and if you give birth. Most cervical cancers begin in the cells in the transformation zone.

Cervical Cancer Symptoms

Cervical cancer may not present with signs or symptoms in its early stages. Advanced cervical can cause bleeding or discharge from the vagina that is not normal for you. The best way to reduce risk is to see your doctor regularly, comply with screening recommendations, and report anything to your doctor that is not normal for you. See the attached documents for more detailed information.

Types of Treatment

If you are diagnosed with cervical cancer, you will be referred to a gynecologic oncologist to develop a treatment plan. Cervical cancer is treated in several ways. It depends on the kind of cervical cancer and how far it has spread. Treatments include surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy.

  • Surgery: Doctors remove cancer tissue in an operation.
  • Chemotherapy: Using special medicines to shrink or kill the cancer. The drugs can be pills you take or medicines given in your veins, or sometimes both.
  • Radiation: Using high-energy rays (similar to X-rays) to kill the cancer.

 Insurance and Income: For those who are concerned they cannot afford care

Screening and treatment are covered under most insurance policies. But what if you, or someone you know, is uninsured or underinsured and cannot afford care? In Connecticut, the DPH has the Connecticut Early Detection & Prevention Program (CEDPP).

The CEDPP is an integrated program that brings breast and cervical cancer screening together with the WISEWOMAN, Colorectal Cancer, and Comprehensive Cancer programs, which helps promote healthy lifestyles for Connecticut Residents in order to decrease breast, cervical, and colorectal cancers, heart disease, hypertension, and other avoidable diseases. If you, or someone you know, needs to receive screening but cannot afford it, please go to the Early Detection and Prevention Program website to determine eligibility.

Cervical Cancer Facts