Published on September 2, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
September 2, 2009
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Apoorva Sabnis-Stull
(703) 837-3687
apoorva.sabnis-stull@preventcancer.org
Kristina Hunken
(703) 837-3694
kristina.hunken@preventcancer.org
Prevent Cancer Foundation and Fund to Prevent Cervical Cancer team up and Confess! during National Gynecologic Cancer Awareness Month
ALEXANDRIA, VA — Women do some crazy things, but one of them should not be forgetting to get a Pap test! In 2009 an estimated 11,270 women will be diagnosed with cervical cancer and more than 4,070 will die from the disease. These startling numbers prompted the Prevent Cancer Foundation (the Foundation) to create a unique and interactive Web site that encourages women to “confess” their craziest moments while providing them with information about cervical cancer. With a grant from the Fund to Prevent Cervical Cancer, the Foundation created a fresh way to educate women about a serious health issue. Confess! (http://confess.preventcancer.org) is an interactive Web site that provides cervical cancer screening guidelines and a message board where women can post their craziest moments.
“We wanted a fun, educational Web site where women can share and connect over their craziest moments while learning about screening guidelines and how easy it is to get screened, since screening starting at age 18 can help save their lives,” explains Carolyn Aldigé, president and founder of the Prevent Cancer Foundation. “By providing personalized screening guidelines in a fun way, the Foundation is raising awareness about cervical cancer screenings during National Gynecologic Cancer Awareness Month.”
This new educational tool complements the Foundation’s educational information on eight preventable cancers, which also include breast, lung, colorectal, oral, prostate, skin and testicular cancers. Cervical cancer once was one of the most common causes of cancer death in women in the United States. Today, cervical cancer is one of the most preventable cancers. Lives are saved because more women are routinely screened with a Pap test, also called a Pap smear.
Confess! is generating a lot of buzz on Facebook and Twitter, with new fans and followers joining every day. Join us in our quest for 6,000 women to pledge to get screened. To receive your personal screening guidelines, pledge to get screened for cervical cancer, share the site with your friends or post your most embarrassing moments, visithttp://confess.preventcancer.org.
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About The Prevent Cancer Foundation
The Prevent Cancer Foundation was founded in 1985. Today, it is one of the nation’s leading health organizations and has catapulted cancer prevention to prominence. Through healthy lifestyle choices, you can reduce your risk of breast, cervical, colorectal, lung, oral, prostate, skin and testicular cancers.
Since its inception the Prevent Cancer Foundation has provided more than $106 million in support of cancer prevention and early detection research, education and community outreach programs across the country. The Foundation’s peer-reviewed grants have been awarded to nearly 400 scientists from more than 150 of the leading academic medical centers nationwide. This research has been pivotal in developing a body of knowledge that is the basis for important cancer prevention and early detection strategies. For more information, please visit www.preventcancer.org
