Bill > SR11

This senate resolution proclaims January 2025 as Cervical Cancer Awareness Month in California, recognizing the significant public health challenges posed by cervical cancer and Human Papillomavirus (HPV). The resolution highlights critical medical information, including that HPV is the leading cause of cervical cancer, with 9 out of 10 cervical cancers caused by this sexually transmitted infection, and that the disease primarily affects women between 35 and 44 years old, with an average diagnosis age of 50. The resolution encourages the State Department of Public Health and the State Department of Health Care Services to conduct activities supporting prevention, including promoting screening, educational outreach, and raising awareness about HPV-attributable cancers. It emphasizes the importance of regular screening, noting that cervical cancer can often be found early or prevented through tests like the Pap test and HPV test, and draws attention to the higher risk faced by Hispanic and African American women. The resolution aims to increase public understanding of cervical cancer's causes, symptoms, and prevention measures, ultimately seeking to reduce the incidence and impact of this disease in California.