Care For Yourself

05/06/2026

Hoping to see you there!

01/20/2026

Did you know the HPV vaccine can help protect your child from serious diseases later in life, including several forms of cancer? The vaccine is recommended to be given to boys and girls starting at age 11. Talk with your child’s healthcare provider and learn more about HPV at https://hhs.iowa.gov/immunization/hpv

01/16/2026

Pap smears and HPV testing are proven and easy ways to check for . We know these tests can be awkward, but cervical cancer is one of the most preventable types of cancers through regular screening.

Visit https://hhs.iowa.gov/cfy to learn about cervical cancer screenings and how Iowa HHS can help uninsured or underinsured women get the test they need.

01/13/2026

January is Cervical Cancer Awareness Month. Cervical cancer is preventable with the HPV vaccine. Talk with your healthcare provider about what vaccines are right for you and your family.

Visit https://hhs.iowa.gov/health-prevention/vaccines-immunizations/hpv-vaccine to learn more about the HPV vaccine.

12/02/2025

We are excited to introduce Mary Angerer, the new MercyOne Genesis Women's Health Grant Specialist. Her role is to raise awareness of the Care For Yourself program and bring free mammograms and cervical cancer screenings to women in need.

Contact her at Mary.Angerer@mercyone.org

10/08/2025

10/07/2025

More Black women die from breast cancer than any other cancer. Early detection is key. In Iowa, free mammograms are available for those who qualify.

Follow Care For Yourself Program for more information or visit https://canceriowa.news/care-for-yourself.

06/03/2025

Federal cuts to the Department of Health and Human Services mean that the Iowa Cancer Registry and Iowa Cancer Consortium could see a budget shortfall July 1.

Mary Charlton of the cancer registry and Kelly Wells Sittig of the Iowa Cancer Consortium were interviewed for an episode of River to River to discuss the 99 Counties project that began earlier this year and also share how federal funding cuts and layoffs have impacted their statewide work to advance cancer prevention and control in Iowa.

Listen now: https://canceriowa.news/river-to-river-federal-funding.

05/09/2025

⚠️ 𝗔𝗰𝘁 𝗡𝗼𝘄: 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗜𝘀 𝗣𝘂𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝘁 𝗥𝗶𝘀𝗸. Congress needs to hear from you. Click below—it only takes seconds to make a difference.

Recently, the House of Representative's passed a budget resolution proposing an $880 billion spending cut, largely from Medicaid. These cuts would devastate millions, including cancer patients.

📣 Cancer patients already face financial burdens from this illness, as time in treatment and recovery means time off work and a loss of income, leading to anxiety around paying necessary bills.

🛑 As the House and Senate negotiate, we must act now to protect Medicaid, a lifeline for over 70 million Americans. Tell your members of Congress to VOTE NO on any budget resolution that drastically cuts Medicaid. Patients' lives are at stake

Link here to send a direct message to your member of congress: https://shorturl.at/TFzgh

04/02/2025

Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) Cancer Awareness Week begins today. AYA Cancer Awareness Week was created to raise awareness about the unique challenges that AYA cancer survivors face each day. Learn more at: https://stupidcancer.org/adolescent-and-young-adult-cancer/

03/06/2025

The 2025 Cancer in Iowa Report from the Iowa Cancer Registry highlights the array of needs for cancer survivors. The report notes that while there are nearly 172,000 cancer survivors currently living in Iowa, survivor needs vary by cancer type and by each individual survivor.

“We know that cancer survivorship resources are underdeveloped across the United States as well as in Iowa. So, how can we work together to bolster the resources that we already have and provide resources in areas that we don't?” - Sarah Nash, assistant professor in epidemiology in the College of Public Health at Iowa and director of research at the Iowa Cancer Registry.

Read the full report: https://canceriowa.news/cancer-in-iowa-report-2025