Myth 1: Cervical cancer cannot be prevented. Fact: Infection with human papillomavirus (HPV) is completely necessary to form cervical cancer. The virus is sexually transmitted, but most of the most troublesome types of infection can be prevented with the latest vaccines. Avoiding HPV infection significantly reduces a woman’s risk of cervical cancer. And usually after persistent HPV infection cervical cancer is slow to develop and appears as precancerous lesions called atypical hyperplasia, which if caught at this stage can be treated more effectively to prevent the development of cervical cancer; screening with Pap smears and HPV testing detects these precancerous lesions and patients can be treated early. Wang Dong, Department of Gynecologic Oncology, Chongqing Cancer Hospital Behavioral problems can also affect cervical cancer. “A woman can reduce the risk of these problems by limiting the number of sexual partners in her lifetime, not smoking, and receiving screening instructions. Each of these behaviors is a known risk factor associated with cervical cancer.” So says Anthony Opipari, MD, PhD, associate professor of medicine in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Michigan Medical School. Myth #2: I’m too young to worry about cervical cancer. Fact: The average age of a cervical cancer patient is 48 years old. However, this is not always the case; people are diagnosed in their 20s. HPV infection and precancerous lesions with atypical hyperplasia are also common in younger people.