Each year, about 17,000 women and 9,000 men are affected by Human Papillomavirus (HPV). In fact, 80% of people under the age of 50 will contract the virus at some point in their life. Though many people have never heard of it, HPV can lead to some high risk types of cancer in both men and women.  HPV causes cervical cancer; the 2nd leading cancer in women killing over 250,000 worldwide every year.

Cervical cancer is preventable! Although HPV is so prevalent, there are ways to prevent cervical cancer in yourself or someone you love.

  • Get regular screenings: Talk to your healthcare provider about regular pelvic exams, Pap testing, and HPV testing. Know what screenings and schedules are right for you.
  • Get vaccinated: You can protect your children with HPV vaccine. This vaccine works best at ages 11 or 12, but still provides benefits when given in later teen years. The vaccine is approved for both males and females up to age 26. If your child hasn’t started or finished the HPV vaccine series, make an appointment with their doctor today. Now is the perfect time to ask about HPV vaccine!
  • Don’t smoke: Smoking almost doubles your chances of getting cervical cancer. If you are a smoker, get help to stop smoking. If you are not a smoker, don’t start! Talk to your healthcare provider about what steps to take to help you stop smoking. The Montana Tobacco Quit Line is a FREE service for all Montana residents providing dedicated Quit Coaches, FREE nicotine replacement therapy, and more. Call 1(800)QUIT-NOW or enroll online at www.QuitNowMontana.com.

Please join the Gallatin City-County Health Department, American Cancer Society, Bridgercare, Cancer Support Community, and MSU Office of Health Advancement for a FREE screening of “Someone You Love” Thursday, February 16th from 6:00-8:00 PM at the Willson School Library.

The documentary, Someone You Love, explores serious consequences of HPV. Narrated by Vanessa Williams, this poignant documentary takes a look into the lives of five brave women affected by HPV and cervical cancer. Each of these women has an intimate story to tell. For Susie, Tamika and Christine, it’s a story of survivorship that comes with misconceptions, stigma, shame, heartbreak, pain and triumph. For the Forbes family, it’s about coping with the loss of their daughter Kristen and trying to prevent it from happening to others like her. And then there’s Kelly, who at 31 years old began her cancer journey, and must fight to save her marriage, her career, her family and ultimately, her life.

The movie will be followed by a panel discussion of local experts, so come with your questions! For more information, visit www.hpvepidemic.com or contact the Gallatin City-County Health Department at (406)582-3100.

 

CME, CNE, or Pharmacy CE credits can be obtained by visiting the following link: http://cme.medicine.iu.edu/hpvdocumentary

For nurses who view the film at a live event, and would like CNE, please complete the evaluation at: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/5D6KCZN

For physicians or pharmacists who watch the film at a live event, and would like CME or Pharmacy CE, please follow the instructions at:

http://cme.medicine.iu.edu/hpvdocumentary