- Dr. Groesbeck Parham
Groesbeck Parham is a board member of the Institute for the Advancement of Women's Health (IAWH) and talks passionately about the challenges women face in the United States and around the world. He has worked for over 15 years as a gynecological surgeon in Lusaka, Zambia. Parham points out that women diagnosed with cervical cancer often share two main issues: they typically have the Human Papillomavirus (HPV), which mainly causes the disease, and they face difficult social conditions.
This issue is crucial for women in the United States because cervical cancer still affects many lives here. Awareness and action can lead to better outcomes. Dr. Parham has firsthand experience with the poor health outcomes that result from lack of access to care and other healthcare barriers. As part of the World Health Organization's (WHO) Global Strategy to eliminate cervical cancer as a public health problem, he outlines three key areas of focus: (1) vaccinating young girls against HPV before they become sexually active to help prevent cancer; (2) screening adult women for cervical cancer to identify and treat precancerous conditions before they turn into cancer; and (3) providing treatment for women diagnosed with cancer.
Addressing these areas is essential for improving women's health and ensuring that all women, regardless of where they live, have the opportunity for a healthier future.
So, here's where you come in, readers of this message – we've outlined the evidence-based solutions to address each strategy mentioned above:
Strategy 1: HPV vaccinations for young girls before they become sexually active as a way of preventing cancer.
Solution:
- In the U.S., boys and girls aged nine and older can get the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine to protect against cancers caused by HPV infections. Get your child or young person vaccinated today.
- Most cervical cancer is caused by a virus called the human papillomavirus, or HPV.
- You get HPV from sexual contact.
- Most of the time, HPV doesn't cause any health problems and goes away on its own. But sometimes, HPV causes problems with your cervix. In rare cases, it can turn into cervical cancer.
Strategy 2: Cervical cancer screening of adult women to identify and treat precancers before they develop into cancers
Solution:
- Get Screened. Regular screening can prevent cervical cancer or help find it early when it's easy to treat.
- At age 21, start getting a Pap test every 3 years to screen for cervical cancer.
- From age 30 to 65, you can get a Pap test every 3 years, an HPV test every 5 years, OR a Pap test and an HPV test together every 5 years (co-testing).
- After age 65, you may be able to stop screening, OR you may need to get screened if you haven't been screened in a while and have not had a hysterectomy. Talk with your doctor.
Strategy 3: Treatment of women who are diagnosed with cancer
Solution:
- Although some estimate cervical cancer screening rates as high as 80% in the USA, loss to follow-up is a significant issue, period. Globally, up to 40% loss to follow-up is reported for women needing to travel, especially if needing to travel 29 miles an hour to attend secondary screenings.
- As women about our business, ask for assistance getting to your appointment. Let your health provider know that transportation is an issue. Be the encourager in someone else's life who may show signs of being nervous or not in a season of strength right now—help her make, keep, and follow up on her appointments.
Let’s Be the Face of Change
Learn where you can get screened: Visit https://findahealthcenter.HRSA.gov to find a place that is right for you. If you already have a health provider, talk with them about getting regular screening. Make a promise to yourself and make an appointment today! We celebrate life and encourage you to schedule your pap test and other health screenings, keep the appointment, and follow up as necessary—every time, no matter how long you are on hold, how far out your appointment is scheduled, or how to figure out how to enter the building when parking is further than you'd desire.
Later this week – a focus on Lusaka, Zambia, and the work Dr. Groesbeck Parham is doing to help increase outcomes of women in Zambia through phenomenal and lifesaving impactful cervical cancer interventions.
Janine E. Payne, MPHCo-Director, IAWH
This article first appeared on the IAWH Health blog on January 13, 2025 and is preserved here as part of the IAWH Health Journal archive. Information reflects what was known at the time of publication. This article is for general education and is not medical advice.