Press Release
From the Office of
State Representative
Gale D. Candaras
| 17 Main Street Wilbraham, MA | Room 478 State House, Boston, MA |
| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | CONTACT: Darlotte J. Gay |
| 413-599-4785 | |
| 617-722-2520 | |
| dgay@galecandaras.org |
CANDARAS REPRESENTS COMMONWEALTH’S CERVICAL CANCER TASK FORCE IN NATION’S CAPITAL
WASHINGTON, DC – January 13, 2005 --- Representative Gale D. Candaras (D – Wilbraham, MA) was a member of a panel today in the nation’s capital as Massachusetts receives highest rating in the country in the battle against cervical cancer.
A national report released today by Women in Government shows that Massachusetts is ahead of other states, but still has significant room to improve in the fight against cervical cancer. According to A Call to Action: the “State” of Cervical Cancer Prevention in America, issued by Women In Government, Massachusetts received a “very good” rating, scoring 75 percent out of a possible 100 percent.
“We should be encouraged that Massachusetts is the highest ranking state, but clearly we still have a lot more work to do, considering this disease is almost completely preventable,” said Rep. Candaras. The report looked at current data on cervical cancer rates, women’s access to screening using the most up-to-date technology, and the legislative priority being put on the issue.
Rep. Candaras said, “While about 86 percent of Massachusetts women say they were screened in the last three years, all women must be screened regularly and be educated about cervical cancer and the human papillomavirus (HPV), the virus that causes it. Women knowing their HPV status has come to be as important as knowing their HIV status. We must ensure that our screening programs use the most advanced screening technologies available – such as HPV testing – which can improve the traditional Pap test in identifying women needing early intervention. Know your HPV status is our battle cry in Massachusetts,” Rep. Candaras said.
According to the new report:
- No state received an “excellent” grade.
- Massachusetts scored highest with 75 percent, followed by Illinois, Maryland
and North Carolina (69 percent each).
- Tennessee and Texas scored lowest (25 percent), followed by Wyoming (31
percent).
The report is part of a national Challenge to Eliminate Cervical Cancer Campaign, launched in 2004 by Women In Government, a Washington, D.C.-based organization representing state-level elected women officials. The campaign encourages state legislatures to pass bills and resolutions that improve cervical cancer prevention efforts.
“Women In Government believes that, with action, cervical cancer will be the first cancer we can eliminate,” said Susan Crosby, deputy executive director of Women In Government. “We urge state legislators, public health officials, advocates and others to renew their efforts to prevent cervical cancer by ensuring that all women have access to screening using the most advanced techniques available – regardless of their socioeconomic status,” said Crosby.
Approximately 80 percent of adults will contract HPV, the cause of cervical cancer, at some point in their lives. In the majority of women, the virus is cleared naturally by the body. But in certain cases, high-risk types of HPV persist – sometimes staying dormant in the body for months or even years before it becomes active – with the potential to cause cell changes on the cervix that can ultimately become cancerous. These persistent infections are most commonly found in women 30 and older. Research shows that the Pap fails to identify women needing early intervention 15-49 percent of the time. A test for HPV was recently approved by the FDA and increases this accuracy to almost 100 percent when used with a Pap in women age 30 and older. Further, as noted in the popular press, the availability of a vaccine for HPV is likely in the future.
Women In Government’s A Call to Action report examined nationally published data and state legislative activity and was reviewed by the consulting firm, Boston Healthcare Associates. Crosby said, “This is a baseline assessment of where states are today. We look forward to updating the report regularly over the next 10 years in order to evaluate states’ progress.”
In 2003, Women In Government established a Cervical Cancer Elimination Task Force to identify ways state officeholders can facilitate better education and prevention programs for women. Since it launched its campaign in January 2004, Women In Government members have introduced bills and resolutions in 18 states, passing them in 13 states. In August 2004, it launched its HPV & Cervical Cancer Policy Resource Center, designed to serve as a clearinghouse for legislators to share ideas, draft legislation and obtain information. The Resource Center can be contacted at 1-888-333-0164 or resourcecenter@womeningovernment.org.
Women In Government is a bipartisan, non-profit, educational association representing elected and appointed women in state government. It promotes informed policymaking and the leadership role of women by providing issue education and opportunities for idea and information exchange. For more information, visit www.womeningovernment.org.
State Representative Gale D. Candaras sponsored legislation during her previous term that created the Massachusetts Cervical Cancer Commission, for which she has also been appointed to serve as chair during her fifth term in the legislature.