American Federation of Government Employees Local 1916
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American Federation of Government Employees Local 1916
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As you know, Cervical Cancer Prevention Works is CLUW's project to get the cervical cancer awareness and prevention message out to union members. We are counting on you to help do that ... and to eliminate cervical cancer in the U.S.
Cervical cancer is the only cancer for which we know the cause -- virtually all cervical cancers (99%) are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV), which can be detected through regular screenings BEFORE IT BECOMES CANCER!
Yet, in 2006, more than 9,700 women in the U.S. will be diagnosed with cervical cancer and more than 3,700 will die from it.
There is no reason that any union woman (or female family members of union men) should get cervical cancer, as more than 86% of union members have health insurance and most health plans today cover the Pap test and the HPV test for women over 30 [in accordance with the guidelines from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and the American Cancer Society (ACS)]. It's up to each of us to make certain that union women know this information.
To that end, we have prepared an article for you to give to your union to use "as is" or as appropriate for their needs on their website or in their publications. It can be accessed at: www.cluw.org/cervcancer-article.html.
It is provided in both pdf (laid out in 4-color and in grayscale) and in text with high-resolution images so that you can adapt it to fit the space you have available. The article features two union women, Christine Baze (Musicians Union) and Tamika Felder (an AFSCME member) -- both cervical cancer survivors -- who have created not-for-profit organizations to get the awareness and prevention message out in unique and creative ways.
We have a banner on the top of the article noting that September is Gynecological Cancer Awareness Month; however, you can use it any time you wish. If you would like to peg it to another month, be aware that January is Cervical Cancer Screening Month.
R emember: The #1 risk factor for cervical cancer is the failure to be screened regularly. All women should be screened with the Pap test starting at age 21 (or 3 years after first sexual intercourse, whichever comes first). Women 30 and older should be screened with the Pap test and the HPV test.
Now there is one more way to prevent most cervical cancers -- a vaccine for girls and women 9-26. It is critical that our members know about the vaccine and get their daughters (or themselves, if they are in this age group) immunized.
Additional information and materials on the issue are available at www.cluw.org/cervcancer.html. Please note that on that site you can download mini-posters (8 1/2 x 11, in English, Spanish or French) -- perfect for union bulletin boards -- as well as our brochure (in English). You and/or your union can also order both in quantity.
If you have any questions or would like to order materials, please do not hesitate to contact Carolyn Jacobson, director of CLUW's Cervical Cancer Prevention Works project, at cjacobson@cluw.org.
Many thanks for your interest and assistance in getting this important message out -- especially to your union sisters and brothers.
In solidarity,
Marsha Zakowski, National CLUW President |
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