Mandy Moore Joins the Fight to End Cervical Cancer

Cervical cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in the U.S. in women in their twenties and thirties. However, a recent survey of more than 1,000 young women 19-25 years old revealed that the vast majority (85 percent) of them do not believe they are at risk for cervical cancer now.

That’s why singer-songwriter and actress Mandy Moore is teaming up with The Gynecologic Cancer Foundation (GCF) and GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) to encourage young women to do their part to help reduce their risk of cervical cancer.

Through the “Reality Check: What Young Women Don’t Know About Cervical Cancer” campaign, Moore, GCF and GSK hope to raise awareness of cervical cancer and rally young women to talk to their healthcare professional about the steps they can take to protect their cervical health now and for the future. The campaign will kick-off during Cervical Health Awareness Month in January 2010.

“There’s a lot I didn’t know about cervical cancer and how to protect my cervical health, which inspired me to join the fight against cervical cancer,” said Moore. “Another woman shouldn’t have to suffer from cervical cancer when there are things we can do to help prevent this disease.”

In the U.S., every year 3.5 million women receive an abnormal Pap test result, and of those, more than half a million are diagnosed with cervical pre-cancers that may need treatment. If left untreated, however, the pre-cancers can grow into cervical cancer and may require more invasive procedures. Approximately 9 out of 10 women surveyed did not realize that cervical procedures to treat abnormal Pap test results (pre- cancers) can impact a woman’s ability to carry a pregnancy to term. These procedures are sometimes needed to treat high grade Pap test results.

In addition to Pap tests, young women also have the power to help protect themselves against cervical cancer by getting vaccinated. However, of the young women surveyed who believe they are at risk for cervical cancer now, only one quarter have been vaccinated against the disease.

“The survey findings show that while young women are aware of cervical cancer, there is still work to be done. Many young women don’t recognize the importance of protecting their cervical health,” said Yvonne Collins, M.D., gynecologic oncologist with Advocate Christ Medical Center and a member of GCF. “As leaders in the fight against cervical cancer, we need to do our part and educate young women about the proactive steps they can take to help prevent cervical cancer, such as getting Pap tests, talking to their healthcare professional about cervical cancer vaccination and making lifestyle modifications to help prevent HPV infection.”

GlaxoSmithKline has provided funding and editorial assistance to the Gynecologic Cancer Foundation (GCF) for the survey and the “Reality Check: What Young Women Don’t Know About Cervical Cancer” campaign.