Free Cervical Cancer Screenings for Women in Victoria May 13

Let’s be real, no one wants to schedule a Pap smear. But if you’re a woman over 21, especially one without health insurance or juggling bills that always seem more urgent, skipping it could cost you way more than you think.

Underinsured women in the Crossroads area can access free cervical cancer screenings and health services on Tuesday, May 13, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at First United Methodist Church (407 North Bridge Street), thanks to a new partnership between UTHealth Houston’s Salud en Mis Manos program and South Texas Family Planning and Health Corporation.

The event includes free Pap and HPV tests, mammogram referrals, and additional health screenings for women who are underinsured or struggling with the cost of preventative care.

Cervical cancer is one of the few cancers that’s actually preventable.

Texas has the highest number of new cervical cancer cases in the country, with uninsured women particularly at risk due to lower screening rates and later diagnoses. This local outreach aims to reverse that trend.

“No woman should delay screenings because of cost,” said Emily Adlparvar, MPH, senior program manager of Salud en Mis Manos. “Our goal is to identify women in need and provide them with the tools and motivation to complete these critical cancer screenings.”

Appointments are required in advance. Call 713-510-3062 or 713-510-3270, or visit go.uth.edu/Checate to reserve your spot.

This community-focused effort is supported by several local organizations, including Methodist Healthcare Ministries, DeTar Family Medicine Center, South Coastal AHEC, First United Methodist Church, and ProSalud. The STFPHC mobile unit will also be on-site to provide additional health services to attendees.

This initiative is part of a year-round program across 31 Texas counties, funded by the Cancer Prevention Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT).