Screening rates for cervical cancer are declining among young women, particularly those facing barriers to preventive healthcare. A South Florida nonprofit is working to address the issue.
Promise Fund
, a nonprofit founded by Ambassador Nancy G. Brinker, provides access to cervical cancer screenings for underserved women in Palm Beach, Broward and Martin counties, according to a recent announcement.The organization focuses on women who are uninsured, underinsured or lack access to a regular healthcare provider.
Study shows declining screening rates
Cervical cancer is highly preventable and treatable when detected early, but a recent study published in JAMA Network Open found that nearly one in three women ages 21-29 reported never having been screened for cervical cancer. This is a significant
increase from 2005, when 12.5% of women in the same age group had never been screened.
The study also found disparities based on insurance status, race and ethnicity, and education. The percentage of women who had never been screened was highest among those without health insurance (41.8%), followed by Asian American women (44.3%), Native American women (38.3%), Hispanic women (37.5%) and non-Hispanic Black women (33.9%). Nearly 40% of women with a high school education had never been screened, compared with 17% of women with master’s or doctoral degrees.
Promise Fund aims to close the gap
“Cervical cancer is one of the most preventable cancers, and early detection holds the key to survival,” Brinker said. “We are alarmed to see screening rates declining so dramatically. This study confirms what we are seeing in our own community: that lack of health insurance, access to healthcare, education and other barriers can prevent women from receiving potentially lifesaving preventive care. Here in South Florida, nearly 100,000 women are uninsured or do not have a medical home.”
Founded in 2018, Promise Fund is dedicated to increasing survivorship from breast and cervical cancer by providing women with guided support and access to screenings, early detection, treatment and care beyond treatment. Through its programs and partnerships, the organization helps women navigate the healthcare system and overcome barriers that can prevent them from receiving timely care.
“Screening is critical for detecting cervical cancer early, but prevention begins even earlier,” Brinker said. “HPV vaccination can help prevent the infections that cause most cervical cancers. Unfortunately, we also see disparities in vaccination rates, and access to healthcare, education and other resources can have a direct impact on whether women receive this important protection.”
Promise Fund continues to work with healthcare providers, community organizations and other partners throughout South Florida to reach women who may otherwise go without critical cancer prevention and early-detection services.
Learn more
For more information about Promise Fund and its programs, visit thepromisefund.org.
Promise Fund’s mission is to increase survivorship from breast and cervical cancer by providing guided support and access to screenings, early detection, treatment and care. Founded in 2018 by Brinker and community leaders, the organization serves women across Palm Beach, Broward and Martin counties.
Through education and outreach, Promise Fund has engaged more than 185,000 women in South Florida, including over 21,500 who have received screenings and 311 women who have received cancer treatment.
This story was created by web producer Michele Kelley (mkelley@pbpost.com) with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing and publishing process. Learn more.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Promise Fund offers free cervical cancer screenings in South Florida
