health
THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE Jan. 27-Feb. 2, 2010 Page B-8
Things women
AARP Foundation Offers Scholarships to
should know about
Women with Limited Resources
cervical cancer
By Thomas E. Kimble
A m e r i c a n (as of March 31, 2010); the education or training pro-
women over
Retiring comfortably at age
• Be able to demonstrate fi-
gram.
Each year, about 12,000 vical Cancer Control Program
age 65 and
62 is not a reality for many
nancial need; and The scholarship applica-
women in the United States (BCCCP) provides free annual
just under
Michigan residents. With in-
are diagnosed with cervical breast and cervical cancer
one-quar- • Be enrolled in an accred-
tion may only be submitted
creased longevity and rising
cancer, and nearly 4,000 die screening and diagnostic ser-
ter of older ited post-secondary school or
online. The application form
health care costs, many people
from the disease. Health Al- vices to eligible low income
L a t i n a s training program within six
and additional information on
expect to work well past retire-
liance Plan (HAP) is urging and uninsured women across
fall below months of the scholarship
the scholarship program is
ment age. For some people,
women to learn how to reduce Michigan. Call (800) 922-6266
the poverty award date.
available at www.aarpfounda-
this will mean re-careering.
their risk for cervical cancer or visit www.michigancancer.
level.
tionwlc.org. Completed appli-
Opportunities to take classes
Priority consideration is cations must be submitted no
and get recommended screen- org/bcccp for more informa-
and find new jobs after age 50
ings, even if they are unin- tion about eligibility require-
Thomas Kimble
With given in three categories: (1) later than March 31. Scholar-
are important for those con-
all of that Women raising children of an- ship recipients will be notified
sured. ments or participating BCCCP
templating a career change or
in mind, the AARP Founda- other family member (such as in summer 2010.
Who should be concerned
providers.
working past retirement age.
tion is offering the Women’s grandparents raising grand-
about cervical cancer?
For more information
Scholarship Program which children, or those raising sib-
The AARP Foundation
It is a significant achieve-
provides scholarship funds to lings or nieces/nephews); (2)
Women’s Scholarship Pro-
All women are at risk for
about National Cervical Health
ment that the poverty rate for
women age 40 and older seek- women who have been out of
gram is just one of many
cancer of the cervix, the
Awareness Month, visit the
those age 65 and older has
ing new job skills, training and the workforce for an extended
critical things AARP is doing
narrow end of the uterus that
National Cervical Cancer Co-
been cut by more than half
educational opportunities to period of time; (3) women in
in Michigan to help with eco-
connects the womb to the
alition (NCCC) website: www.
over the last 35 years. How-
support themselves and their dead-end jobs (those with no
nomic transformation. This
birth canal. Women between
nccc-online.org/awareness.
ever, the picture is less rosy
families. The AARP Founda- opportunity for advancement,
scholarship creates an oppor-
the ages of 18 and 65 who
html.
for older women, particularly
tion Women’s Scholarship low pay and lacking either
tunity for Michigan citizens
have ever been sexually active Michigan Cervical Cancer older women of color, than it is
Program is available to eligible health or retirement benefits).
to acquire specific training to
are at routine risk for cervical Facts are available from the for older men. For all women
individuals with moderate to
perform the jobs in areas that
cancer. Michigan Department of age 65 and older, the poverty
Up to 100 scholarship
lower incomes and limited fi-
are important for economic
awards will be given through-
The risk is higher for women
Community Health at www. rate is 12.5 percent. For Af-
nancial resources.
growth.
out the United States and will
who have had human papil-
michigancancer.org/PDFs/MD- rican-American and Hispanic
To be eligible for the schol- range in value from $500 to
Thomas E. Kimble is the
lomavirus (HPV) infection,
CHFactSheets/CervCaAware- women, the poverty rates are
arship, applicants must: $5,000, depending upon fi-
AARP Michigan executive
a common virus that can be
MonthFactSheet-0110.pdf. almost double that. More
council volunteer for econom-
passed from one person to an-
than one-quarter of African-
• Be a female age 40 or over
nancial need and the cost of
ic security and work.
other during sex; women who
were sexually active before
age 18 and have had multiple
sex partners; and women who
smoke.
How can women decrease
their risk for cervical
cancer?
DID YOU CHOOSE THE RIGHT
Pap Test: Pap tests increase
the chance of finding cervical
cancer in its earliest stages,
MEDICARE PLAN FOR YOU?
when it is most curable. When
cervical cancer is discovered
in a later stage, the survival
rate is lower and treatment is
Did you join one of Michigan’s top-rated Medicare plans?*
often more invasive and pain-
ful. Women should have a Pap
test every year starting at age
If you didn’t, now through March 31, you may be able
18. Women who have had three
normal tests may only need
to switch and get in on HAP’s many advantages.
to have a Pap test every three
years; those over age 65 with
consistently normal Pap tests
HAP’s Alliance Medicare PPO received the
may not need further testing.
Consult your health care pro- highest Medicare Star Summary rating for
vider for advice.
HPV Vaccine: The Gardasil
Overall Health Plan Quality of any Medicare
and Cervarix vaccines are de-
Advantage plan in Michigan for 2010. And
signed to protect against two
cancer-causing types of HPV
no Medicare HMO plan in Michigan rated
that are responsible for about
70 percent of cervical cancers.
higher than HAP Senior Plus (HMO).
According to Michigan Qual-
ity Improvement Consortium
(MQIC) guidelines, HPV vac-
If you’re not already a HAP member,
cine is routinely recommended
for all girls between age 11 and
now’s the time to give us a call and
12 and for girls and women 13
to 26 years of age who did not make your one switch to a HAP
receive the vaccine when they
were younger.
Medicare Advantage plan today.
Practice Safe Sex: Use a
condom during sexual inter-
course to prevent sexually
transmitted diseases and limit
your number of sexual part-
ners.
Stop Smoking: Talk to your
health care provider if you are
ready to kick the habit.
Is help available for low
income and uninsured
women?
Michigan’s Breast and Cer-
Free Pap
test screenings
offered
University of Michigan Health
System will host free Pap test
screenings to raise awareness
about cervical cancer early de-
tection and prevention later
this month.
The University of Michigan
Comprehensive Cancer Center
will collaborate with the De-
partment of Obstetrics and Gy-
necology and Women’s Health
Program to host a free Pap test
screening on Saturday, Jan.
30, in Briarwood Building 2,
Suite B on Eisenhower Park-
way from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Aisha Langford, director of
the Cancer Center’s commu-
nity outreach program, said,
“We are happy to offer free Pap
tests during Cervical Cancer
Awareness Month, especially
in light of these tough eco-
nomic times. This screening is
a way for us to give back to the
community and raise aware-
ness about women’s health.”
Appointments are now
being accepted for women who
are 21 years or older, women
who have not had a Pap test in
the last two years, and women
To find out if you still qualify to enroll in a HAP Medicare plan,
who do not have medical cov-
erage for a Pap Test. Screen-
ings can take less than ten
call a HAP Medicare representative today, toll-free at
minutes. Registration is re-
quired.
(800) 292-9344 or TDD (800) 956-4325
Cervical cancer is a serious
disease that affects 11,000
Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
women each year. It has no
symptoms during its earliest
stages but, if detected early
through Pap test screenings,
*Based on the Overall Health Plan Quality Star Summary Ratings awarded by the federal Medicare program (2008-2009 data).
cervical cancer is curable.
To schedule a free screen-
HAP Senior Plus and Alliance Medicare PPO are health plans with a Medicare contract.
ing, call the U-M Cancer An-
swerLine at 1-800-865-1125. H2312 H2322 401 SWM Ad F&U Certified 1.21.10
For more information, visit
http://www.mcancer.org.
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