PRESS RELEASE

8^th May 2012

Marie Keating Foundation Cervical Cancer Awareness Month Runs Throughout May

-Promoting early detection and dispelling the many myths about Cervical Cancer and Cervical Screening

May is Cervical Cancer Awareness Month for the Marie Keating Foundation and this year, the aim of the campaign is to promote early detection and to dispel some of the myths which still abound with regard to Cervical Cancer and Cervical Screening in Ireland. Throughout the month of May, the Foundation’s nurses will be travelling around Ireland on its Mobile Information Units giving free advice on all cancers but with a particular focus on Cervical Cancer. The Foundation has worked hard over the last 5 years to raise awareness of cervical cancer and campaigned tirelessly for the introduction of a vaccination programme for teenage girls, in line with best practice in other European countries.

Lillian McGovern, CEO of the Marie Keating Foundation said “In 2011, the Foundation’s cervical cancer campaign got a significant boost thanks to Health Minister James Reilly’s announcement on the 26^th of May of the intention to extend the cervical cancer vaccination programme to 6th year students from September 2011. This catch-up programme will go a long way to ensuring that many women’s lives are saved from this dreadful disease and this, along with the national screening programme for women from the age of 25 is a significant development for the health and welfare of women.”

Cervical Cancer is the second most common female cancer in Europe. A cervical smear test can detect pre-cancerous changes in the cervix which is completely curable. However, if left untreated, these cells may develop into Cervical Cancer. Pre-cancerous cell changes do not usually have any symptoms, which is why it is so important to have regular smear tests. To learn more about cervical screening, log onto www.cervicalcheck.ie or call 1800 45 45 55[i].

All school girls in first year of second level school now get a free vaccine to help prevent cervical cancer. In total 48,501 girls in first and second year of second level school completed the 3 dose course of HPV vaccine in the first year of the HPV vaccination programme giving an uptake rate of 81.9%. A catch-up programme for sixth year girls commenced in September 2011 for the academic year 2011/2012 and will also run in 2012/2013 and 2013/2014 academic years[ii]. Older girls and women not included in the national vaccination programme may also benefit from vaccination so talk to your GP about options available to you.

Caption; TV3 presenter Anna Daly is pictured at the launch of the Marie Keating Foundation’s Cervical Cancer Awareness campaign which runs throughout May promoting early detection and dispelling the myths about Cervical Cancer and Cervical Screening. As the pearl is the international symbol for Cervical Cancer, pearl bracelets will be on sale in Marks & Spencer and selected stockists nationwide in aid of the Foundation.For more information log onto www.mariekeating.ie

 Download information leaflets here or request a free information pack by calling 01 6283726 or email info@mariekeating.ie

The message from the Marie Keating Foundation this May is simple; speaking to the women in your life about Cervical Cancer will help to dispel the myths and could aid early detection so Tell her, it could save her life.

 ENDS

Media Contact: Sue Hayden, Communications Manager, Marie Keating Foundation 086 60538583/ 01 6283726

Notes to the Editor

[ii] Figures issued by HSE-National Immunisation Office, Population Health Directorate

Entrance Fee is €20 this includes a dinner voucher.

For further information contact 087 9923409 or clonardroadclub@yahoo.ie.

For the 3^rd year the Marie Keating Foundation are delighted to be chosen as one of the four charities for the Run Kildare which will take off from the Curragh Race Course, there will be a 10K, Half and Full Marathon. To register please log onto www.kildaremarathon.ie.