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.

• 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

• 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

• 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

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.

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.

• American Association for Cancer Research – Cervical Cancer Awareness Month