Alabama Has Nation’s Highest Rate of Cervical Cancer Death

 ========= Old Image Removed =========Array
(
    [_wp_attached_file] => Array
        (
            [0] => 2018/11/appointment-appointment-book-blur-40568.jpg
        )

    [_wp_attachment_metadata] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:5:{s:5:"width";i:1920;s:6:"height";i:1280;s:4:"file";s:51:"2018/11/appointment-appointment-book-blur-40568.jpg";s:5:"sizes";a:13:{s:6:"medium";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:51:"appointment-appointment-book-blur-40568-336x224.jpg";s:5:"width";i:336;s:6:"height";i:224;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:5:"large";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:51:"appointment-appointment-book-blur-40568-771x514.jpg";s:5:"width";i:771;s:6:"height";i:514;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:51:"appointment-appointment-book-blur-40568-140x140.jpg";s:5:"width";i:140;s:6:"height";i:140;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:12:"medium_large";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:51:"appointment-appointment-book-blur-40568-768x512.jpg";s:5:"width";i:768;s:6:"height";i:512;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"1536x1536";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:53:"appointment-appointment-book-blur-40568-1536x1024.jpg";s:5:"width";i:1536;s:6:"height";i:1024;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"wbhm-icon";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:49:"appointment-appointment-book-blur-40568-80x80.jpg";s:5:"width";i:80;s:6:"height";i:80;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:13:"wbhm-featured";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:51:"appointment-appointment-book-blur-40568-600x338.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:338;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:20:"wbhm-featured-square";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:51:"appointment-appointment-book-blur-40568-600x600.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:600;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:18:"wbhm-featured-home";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:51:"appointment-appointment-book-blur-40568-467x311.jpg";s:5:"width";i:467;s:6:"height";i:311;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:22:"wbhm-featured-carousel";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:51:"appointment-appointment-book-blur-40568-398x265.jpg";s:5:"width";i:398;s:6:"height";i:265;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:28:"ab-block-post-grid-landscape";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:51:"appointment-appointment-book-blur-40568-600x400.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:400;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:25:"ab-block-post-grid-square";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:51:"appointment-appointment-book-blur-40568-600x600.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:600;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:14:"post-thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:51:"appointment-appointment-book-blur-40568-125x125.jpg";s:5:"width";i:125;s:6:"height";i:125;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}}s:10:"image_meta";a:12:{s:8:"aperture";s:1:"0";s:6:"credit";s:0:"";s:6:"camera";s:0:"";s:7:"caption";s:0:"";s:17:"created_timestamp";s:1:"0";s:9:"copyright";s:0:"";s:12:"focal_length";s:1:"0";s:3:"iso";s:1:"0";s:13:"shutter_speed";s:1:"0";s:5:"title";s:0:"";s:11:"orientation";s:1:"0";s:8:"keywords";a:0:{}}}
        )

    [_imagify_optimization_level] => Array
        (
            [0] => 0
        )

    [_imagify_data] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:2:{s:5:"sizes";a:10:{s:4:"full";a:4:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:13:"original_size";i:573503;s:14:"optimized_size";i:246207;s:7:"percent";d:57.07;}s:9:"thumbnail";a:4:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:13:"original_size";i:6390;s:14:"optimized_size";i:6078;s:7:"percent";d:4.8799999999999999;}s:6:"medium";a:4:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:13:"original_size";i:17384;s:14:"optimized_size";i:16608;s:7:"percent";d:4.46;}s:5:"large";a:4:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:13:"original_size";i:61365;s:14:"optimized_size";i:58995;s:7:"percent";d:3.8599999999999999;}s:9:"wbhm-icon";a:4:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:13:"original_size";i:2953;s:14:"optimized_size";i:2777;s:7:"percent";d:5.96;}s:13:"wbhm-featured";a:4:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:13:"original_size";i:38761;s:14:"optimized_size";i:37181;s:7:"percent";d:4.0800000000000001;}s:20:"wbhm-featured-square";a:4:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:13:"original_size";i:19576;s:14:"optimized_size";i:18734;s:7:"percent";d:4.2999999999999998;}s:18:"wbhm-featured-home";a:4:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:13:"original_size";i:28854;s:14:"optimized_size";i:27633;s:7:"percent";d:4.2300000000000004;}s:22:"wbhm-featured-carousel";a:4:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:13:"original_size";i:22485;s:14:"optimized_size";i:21558;s:7:"percent";d:4.1200000000000001;}s:14:"post-thumbnail";a:4:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:13:"original_size";i:5418;s:14:"optimized_size";i:5142;s:7:"percent";d:5.0899999999999999;}}s:5:"stats";a:3:{s:13:"original_size";i:776689;s:14:"optimized_size";i:440913;s:7:"percent";d:43.229999999999997;}}
        )

    [_imagify_status] => Array
        (
            [0] => success
        )

    [_media_credit] => Array
        (
            [0] => Source: Pixabay
        )

    [_navis_media_credit_org] => Array
        (
            [0] => 
        )

    [_navis_media_can_distribute] => Array
        (
            [0] => 
        )

)
1656279549 
1543504372

Alabama has the highest rate of cervical cancer death in the country. African-American women in the state die from the disease at nearly twice the rate of white women. That is according to a report released Thursday by Human Rights Watch, an international nonprofit. Amanda Klasing is a senior researcher who worked on the report.

“This is such a slow growing cancer,” Klasing says. “It is such a preventable form of cancer, that if you have women dying from it, it means something else is wrong in the healthcare system.”

When identified early, the odds of surviving cervical cancer are very good, with a 93% rate of survival after five years. The report says Alabama’s high rate of mortality reflects statewide barriers to care, like not having access to a gynecologist and inadequate health education. It is especially a problem in the Black Belt, a poor, rural part of the state. There, women may drive hours to get a check-up or to see a specialist, if they can get transportation. The report says racial disparities also play a role, with African-American women often diagnosed at a later stage than white women.

“There are structural forms of racism that continue to exist in the health system or that are carry-overs from abuses that existed years ago,” Klasing says.

Human Rights Watch recommends increasing awareness of the HPV vaccine, which prevents the virus that can cause cervical cancer. The group says Alabama should better fund outreach programs in the Black Belt and help people follow preventative guidelines. It also advocates for Alabama to expand Medicaid. Poor, uninsured women in the state are at a higher risk of dying from cervical cancer because they cannot afford treatment.

 

Asked to flag ‘negative’ National Park content, visitors gave their own 2 cents instead

Signs installed earlier in National Parks earlier in June asked for feedback on signs "that are negative about past or living Americans." Comments viewed by NPR didn't provide the requested feedback.

RFK Jr.’s vaccine advisers raise disproven fears about the preservative thimerosal

The CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices voted on the flu vaccine, raising concerns about a rarely used preservative. Medical groups worry this will "sow distrust" in vaccines.

How does President Trump make his money? Real estate, hospitality and his name

President Trump's financial disclosure shows more than $630 million in income from 2024 including tens of millions from cryptocurrency and Trump-branded products touted on the campaign trail.

He owns trendy Israeli eateries. Now he’s a rep for a controversial Gaza food program

Shahar Segal — known for restaurants around the world that include Manhattan's Michelin-starred Shmoné — is a spokesperson for the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation.

Faith Kipyegon attempts to make history by smashing the 4-minute mile for women

The three-time Olympic champion will need to shave more than 7 seconds off her personal best, a record she set in 2023. But if she succeeds, the Kenyan runner won't make the official record books yet.

Brad Pitt plays a veteran racer who won’t slow down in ‘F1’

Pitt, 61, stars as a Formula One driver whose career was sidelined by a devastating crash. Though the overall arc of F1 is fairly predictable, the film is still hugely enjoyable and dazzlingly well-made.

More Front Page Coverage