Subhash Chauhan presenting to UTRGV students about Cervical Cancer Thursday in the Ballroom at the Edinburg campus Celeste Cruz / Vaquero Radio
Women in the Valley are frequently diagnosed with cervical cancer. The Rio Grande Valley is known to have the most cervical cancer cases in the U.S.
UTRGV School of Medicine and the Cervical Cancer Prevention Action Network hosted a cervical cancer awareness event Thursday, co-hosted by Indian Cultural Association (ICA) and School of Integrative Biological and Chemical Sciences, where students learned about the disease and how to prevent it.
Swati Mohan, adviser for the Indian Cultural Association said the purpose of this event was to educate students about the importance of cervical cancer prevention.
“We are going [to] other places, other schools, to [be] aware about cervical cancer,” Mohan said. “So basically cervical cancer is deadly but preventable.”
She mentioned there are different ways to help prevent cervical cancer.
“If we know this on time and how we know due to the awareness , you know, to take the vaccine, to go for a pap smear, there are lots of things so we can prevent it.”
Keyaal Shah, president of the Indian Cultural Association said resources were offered to attendees.
“We will also distribute out some flyers, which has all the places where you can get tested, especially where you can get vaccinations and the free programs that can help you getting tested and vaccinated,” Shah said.
She advises the community to get vaccinated, emphasizing children as young as nine can receive the HPV vaccine.
“So, if parents are hearing this or even if students are hearing this, they have kids at home, they have family at home… they can get them vaccinated,” Shah said.
She said in the U.S. the HPV vaccine is optional, which makes it important for parents to ensure their children are vaccinated.
Julio Cesar Delgado, Secretary of ICA said he hopes the attendees learn more about the risks of colon cancer.
“I hope they get a better understanding of what colon cancer is, how it affects people on a daily basis and how they can help people that have colon cancer,” Delgado said.
Students interested in the Indian Cultural Association visit V Link.
This is Celeste Cruz for Vaquero Radio
