By Lindsey Coblentz

College students have a lot on their plates. With school, clubs, work and other activities, students may find themselves struggling to juggle it all. With all of these demanding commitments in place, the last thing students want to think about is cancer. After all, most students are too young to get cancer, right?

According to Nila Meeks, a University of Louisville graduate who works with the Kentucky Cancer Program, this is far from the truth.

“Because college students may believe that cancer is an ‘old person’s disease,’ they may think they are immune or invincible. This is definitely not the case,” said Meeks.

A joint effort between Commuter Student Services, the Women’s Center, Student Health Services and the Kentucky Cancer Program hopes to change students’ mindsets about cancer, specifically cervical cancer.

On Jan. 23, the Commuter Student Services Center will host a cervical cancer awareness seminar. Meeks will be doing a presentation that will include general information about cervical cancer and making healthy lifestyle choices.

Jessica Crum, a freshman with an undeclared major, said events such as this are important for students. “I think events like these are really important because awareness is the first step in fighting this. I think a lot of women are unaware of how serious cervical cancer is.”

According to the American Cancer Society, cervical cancer is a gradual type of cancer that occurs when normal cells in the cervix slowly develop pre-cancerous changes. This process can take many years or less than a year. In 2007, there were approximately 11,150 new cases of cervical cancer and 3,670 deaths from cervical cancer.

Most cancers of the cervix can be prevented by avoiding exposure to human papillomavirus, a group of more than 100 different types of viruses. More than 30 of these viruses are transmitted sexually, and they can be spread by both men and women.

Mary Karen Powers, the director of the Women’s Center, said that one of the main purposes of the seminar is to explain what HPV is and how it is linked to cervical cancer.

“I’m not sure most college students know that there’s a link between the HPV virus and cervical cancer, and I’m not sure that they know they can access a vaccine that can help to reduce that risk.”

The HPV vaccine that Powers referred to is known as Gardisil. According to the American Cancer Society, Gardisil has been found to prevent cervix cell changes that are caused by certain strains of HPV, thus effectively preventing some forms of cervical cancer.

Health care professionals agree that one of the greatest hindrances to protecting women from cervical cancer is awareness of the virus. According to the US National Cancer Institute’s Health Information National Trends survey conducted in 2005, only 40 percent of American women surveyed had heard of the HPV infection and only 20 percent had heard of its link to cervical cancer. Nearly 10,000 people are diagnosed with cervical cancer annually, and approximately 4,000 die from it in the same time span.

Crum feels that getting the vaccine should be a priority for college women.

“I think it is really important to be vaccinated, especially if you are sexually active,” said Crum. “Cervical cancer is a risk that is never worth taking. Period.”

Meeks also plans to show students how to spread the word about cervical cancer to their friends and family in her presentation. One way she hopes to accomplish this is by having more men in the audience. “I hope to see more males in the audience because they too can be affected by HPV.”

Powers agreed.

“This program is open to everyone at U of L. Men have mothers and sisters and wives, so men are connected to women in many, many ways. Strong men support education and health care. We always welcome men.”

According to Powers, this seminar will provide a way for students to gain information about HPV and cervical cancer in a low-key environment. Commuter Student Services can accommodate a small group of 35 people, and free pizza will be provided.

For Powers, cervical cancer is a fundamental health issue for women.

“You need to know the risks, and you need to know how to take good care of your health because the one thing you get for the rest of your life is your health.”