Planned Parenthood of Illinois is celebrating Gynecologic Cancer Awareness Month in September by encouraging women to visit a health care provider to receive preventive cancer screenings and treatment.

According to the American Cancer Society, 78,490 women in the United States were diagnosed with a gynecologic cancer such as cervical, ovarian, uterine, vaginal and vulvar cancer in 2008; 28,490 died from one of these diseases.

"While gynecological cancers are prevalent, many can be preventable," said Steve Trombley, PPIL president and CEO. "It is imperative that women make regular visits to their health care providers for preventative screenings so that abnormal cells are detected before cancer develops. At PPIL, we are committed to providing women with the information and access to services they need to stay safe and healthy."

Planned Parenthood"s 19 health centers, including Ottawa's at 612 Court St., offer comprehensive reproductive health care services to help screen for and prevent gynecological cancers, including routine Pap tests and evaluation and management of abnormal Pap tests. Women should get annual Pap tests starting at age 21, or within three years of becoming sexually active, whichever occurs first.

PPIL also offers the HPV vaccine, which protects against the types of HPV that most often cause cervical, vaginal and vulvar cancers. HPV, a common sexually transmitted infection, affects one in four women in their lifetime.

Cervical cancer screenings every three to five years could prevent four out of every five cases of invasive cancer.

In honor of Gynecologic Cancer Awareness Month, patients can receive $5 off a Pap test or HPV vaccine at any PPIL health center. Coupons, valid through Wednesday, Sept. 30, will be accessible on the PPIL Web site, www.ppil.org.