January is Cervical Health Awareness Month, and the Arkansas Department of Health is encouraging women to take advantage of no-cost cervical and breast cancer screenings through its BreastCare program.
Cervical cancer is largely preventable through routine Pap tests and the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine. Yet in 2025, an estimated 150 Arkansas women are expected to be diagnosed with cervical cancer, and 60 may die from the disease. The state ranks among the lowest in the nation for both cervical cancer screenings and HPV vaccination rates among young women.
“Cancers diagnosed at late stages are generally associated with poor outcomes and higher treatment costs,” the ADH said. “Women diagnosed at earlier stages have a greater chance of survival.”
The BreastCare program offers screening services for women ages 21-64 and has enrolled about 159,353 women since its inception. In addition to screenings, the program provides education on the importance of early detection and regular preventive care.
For more information or to find a provider, call 1-833-693-2942 or visit the Arkansas Department of Health’s BreastCare website.
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