NORTH COUNTY -- January is Cervical Cancer Awareness Month, with the goal of educating and empowering women across America to visit their clinicians for an annual Pap smear test. Vigilance on the part of women about early detection through cervical cancer screening is crucial, because cervical cancer, when caught early, is nearly 100 percent curable.

To aid in the reduction of cervical cancer, Vista Community Clinic is participating in the national Free Pap Smear Month by offering free Pap smears and pelvic exams to qualifying women at its five clinic sites. The visit includes clinical breast exams, screening for sexually transmitted infections, health education and other services as appropriate. To find out if you qualify for free cervical and breast health screening, and to schedule an appointment, contact the Vista Community Clinic appointment line at (760) 631-5220.

Cervical cancer prevention occurs through screening and getting a Pap smear test. The good news is that cervical cancer is preventable and curable if it is detected early; in fact, the occurrence of deaths from cervical cancer has declined significantly over the last 20 to 30 years. However, the American Cancer Society reports that between 60 percent and 80 percent of American women with newly diagnosed invasive cervical cancer had not had a Pap smear in the last five years and many had never had one. The unscreened population includes older women, the uninsured, ethnic minorities (particularly Latina, African-American and Asian-American women), and underprivileged women, particularly those in rural areas.

The major risk factors for cervical cancer include early age at initiation of sexual activity, multiple sexual partners, infection with human papilloma virus and cigarette smoking. Therefore, primary prevention is focused mainly on modification of sexual behavior and eradication of cigarette smoking.

The incidence of invasive cervical cancer exhibits different ethnic patterns by age group. Among women ages 30 to 54, Asian women have the highest rate, followed by Latino women and black women. The rate among Asian women is nearly twice as high as that of Latino women.

Among women ages 55 to 69, Asian women continue to have the highest incidence of invasive cervical cancer. Latino women have the third-highest incidence in this age group, followed by black women.

Neru Taupau is a project coordinator at Vista Community Clinic Choices Teen Wellness Clinic.