Category: Health check-ups

January – Cervical Cancer Awareness Month

January is internationally dedicated to raising awareness about cervical cancer. Known as Cervical Cancer Awareness Month, it aims to highlight the importance of prevention, early detection, and vaccination against the human papillomavirus (HPV), which is responsible for nearly all cases of the disease.

Cervical cancer remains a major public health issue worldwide. According to the World Health Organization, approximately 660,000 new cases are diagnosed globally each year, and more than 350,000 women lose their lives to the disease. It is among the most common cancers affecting women, particularly in regions where access to preventive screening and vaccination is limited. At the same time, it is one of the few cancers that can largely be prevented through organized prevention and early detection programmes.

In Greece, available data indicate that around 700 new cases of cervical cancer are diagnosed annually, while more than 280 deaths are attributed to the disease each year. The estimated incidence is approximately 8 cases per 100,000 women. Although this places Greece close to the European average, it also highlights the need for further improvement in prevention and early diagnosis.

Cervical cancer is closely linked to chronic infection with human papillomavirus (HPV), a very common virus transmitted mainly through sexual contact.

HPV vaccination, combined with regular gynaecological screening through Pap tests and HPV tests, can significantly reduce the development of precancerous lesions and cervical cancer. In this context, the World Health Organization has set the goal of eliminating cervical cancer as a public health problem by 2030, through high vaccination coverage, universal screening, and timely treatment.

January serves as an important reminder that information and prevention save lives. Open discussion around women’s health, free from fear and stigma, empowers women to take care of themselves and to claim prevention as a fundamental right.

Special emphasis should be placed on the systematic education of younger generations, as prevention begins long before any symptoms appear. Access to reliable information, preventive screening services, and vaccination programmes is a key factor in reducing health inequalities and protecting future generations.

At KAPA3, we believe that information and prevention are core pillars of care and empowerment. Through the dissemination of reliable information and the support of initiatives that promote public health, we stand alongside every woman who needs knowledge, prevention, and timely care.

Because cervical cancer can be prevented, we encourage everyone to take action. Give a meaningful gift to the women you care about: daughters, sisters, mothers, friends, partners, spouses. Talk openly about women’s health, share information, support initiatives, challenge taboos, and promote early diagnostic screening.

Information and open dialogue are the strongest tools we have.

Sources:

World Health Organization (WHO)
Cervical cancer – Fact sheet

WHO – Global strategy to accelerate the elimination of cervical cancer

International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC / WHO)
Cervical Cancer Awareness Month

ICO / IARC HPV Information Centre – Greece Factsheet

Ministry of Health – National Immunization Programme

Hellenic National Public Health Organization (EODY)
HPV and cervical cancer

Text/adaptation: Ifiyenia Anastasiou for Kapa3

Movember: The November Moustache and Men’s Health

Every November, men around the world grow a moustache, taking part in a movement that started in 2003 in Melbourne, Australia. Back then, Travis Garone and Luke Slattery, chatting in a bar about past men’s trends, decided, as a playful experiment, to bring the moustache back into fashion. At the same time, inspired by the mother of a friend who had organized a fundraiser for breast cancer, they decided to pair their moustache campaign with an initiative for men’s health, specifically focusing on prostate cancer. This simple idea grew into a global movement, Movember, which today counts over 6 million members, highlighting the importance of vigilance in men’s mental and physical health.

According to the World Health Organization, more than 1.4 million men are diagnosed with prostate cancer each year, making it the most common cancer among men worldwide. Meanwhile, testicular cancer primarily affects younger men aged 15–44, and although survival rates are high, early detection remains crucial. Yet simple actions—a yearly check‑up with a doctor, a preventive prostate exam, a PSA blood test, a testicular ultrasound, or even self‑examination—can make a real difference.

Care, however, doesn’t stop at the body: men seek help for mental health issues far less often than women. Depression, loneliness, and anxiety often remain silent behind the phrase “I’m fine.” And yet, behind this silence, opportunities for support and for a life with quality and hope are lost.

Men are often burdened by cultural norms and stereotypes of a flawed and outdated masculinity, which distance them from prevention and self‑care. Mental health needs to become a routine, not an emergency.

In Greece, according to the latest data from KLIMAKA’s Suicide Observatory for 2024, 469 suicides were recorded, with 86% involving men. The age groups 50–54 and 20–24 show notable incidence, while those over 80 account for 9.6% of cases. The main methods were hanging (29%), firearms (25.8%), and falls (24.3%). Underreporting remains significant, with an estimated 15–20% of cases unrecorded, and each completed suicide corresponds to 20–30 attempts.

Movember is not just about men: women participate as Mo Sisters, encouraging the men in their lives to take care of themselves. Kapa3 supports such initiatives, raises awareness, and motivates the community to incorporate prevention and mental well‑being into daily life.

With everyone’s participation, men’s health can improve, awareness can grow, and prevention can become a habit. Every November moustache carries a message: taking care of your health is an act of strength and responsibility.

Learn more about the movement here.

Sources:

Text/adaptation: Ifiyenia Anastasiou for Kapa3