January is Cervical Cancer Awareness Month, and today’s episode is about what we can do now and what’s finally changing for the better.
In this conversation, we break down:
- What cervical cancer is and how it develops
- Why screening and HPV vaccination save lives
- Common myths that still prevent people from getting protected
- And a practice-changing clinical trial that’s redefining treatment for people with high-risk cervical cancer
We also dive into newly released data from a major international phase 3 trial showing that adding immunotherapy to standard chemoradiation helps people with high-risk, locally advanced cervical cancer live longer and lowers the risk of recurrence—a breakthrough that’s been decades in the making.
This episode is about access, prevention, informed choice, and real hope, without fear-based messaging or medical jargon.
🎗️ Cervical Cancer Basics
- How cervical cancer forms
- Who is at higher risk
- Why early detection makes such a difference
Learn more:
Cleveland Clinic – Cervical Cancer Overview
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/12216-cervical-cancer
🩺 Screening Guidelines: What You Actually Need to Know
- Updated cervical cancer screening recommendations
- Pap tests vs HPV testing
- Why screening intervals have changed—and why that’s a good thing
Source:
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG)
Updated Cervical Cancer Screening Guidelines
https://www.acog.org/clinical/clinical-guidance/practice-advisory/articles/2021/04/updated-cervical-cancer-screening-guidelines
💉 HPV Vaccine: Separating Facts from Fear
- What HPV is and how it relates to cervical cancer
- Why the HPV vaccine is about cancer prevention, not behavior
- Addressing common myths with science, not shame
Sources:
Society of Behavioral Medicine – 7 HPV Vaccine Myths
https://www.sbm.org/healthy-living/7-hpv-vaccine-myths
CDC – HPV Vaccine Safety
https://www.cdc.gov/vaccine-safety/vaccines/hpv.html
🔬 New Research That’s Changing Treatment
We break down results from a major phase 3 international study (KEYNOTE-A18 / ENGOT-cx11 / GOG-3047) that found:
- Adding pembrolizumab (Keytruda) to standard chemoradiation
- Improved overall survival and progression-free survival
- For people with high-risk, locally advanced cervical cancer
- With a manageable and well-understood safety profile
This research is now being recognized as practice-changing and is expected to redefine the standard of care.
💙 Why This Matters
Cervical cancer is one of the most preventable cancers, yet people still fall through the cracks due to:
- Misinformation
- Barriers to screening
- Limited access to care
This episode centers education, compassion, and autonomy—because knowledge should empower, not scare.
📚 Additional Resources
