This Forum examines cervical cancer disparities affecting Latinas and the breakthrough prevention tools available to eliminate cervical cancer as a public health problem. Expert speakers present data showing that Hispanic women are about 40% more likely to be diagnosed with cervical cancer and more likely to die from it than non-Hispanic White women, with half of all cases occurring in people who were never screened or hadn’t been screened in over five years.

The discussion explores three critical prevention strategies: HPV vaccination, cervical cancer screening innovations including FDA-approved self-collection testing, and treatment access. Researchers share findings from Costa Rica demonstrating that single-dose HPV vaccination may be equally effective as multi-dose regimens—a potential game-changer for increasing global vaccine coverage. The Forum also addresses significant heterogeneity within Latino populations, showing that screening rates, vaccination coverage, and barriers to care vary substantially by country of origin, language preference, and immigrant status.

Speakers emphasize the transformative potential of HPV self-collection testing for reaching underserved populations through safety net health systems, federally qualified health centers, and community-based settings. The session concludes with insights on training patient navigators and promotoras to reduce barriers and improve follow-up care for abnormal screening results in both U.S. and Latin American communities.

Key Topics Include:

• Cervical cancer incidence and mortality disparities among Latina subpopulations
• HPV vaccine effectiveness and emerging single-dose vaccination strategies
• Self-collection HPV testing as a paradigm shift in cervical cancer screening
• Implementation strategies for safety net health systems and community settings
• The role of patient navigators and community health workers in cancer prevention
• WHO’s 90-70-90 global elimination strategy and U.S. elimination goals

Speakers include: Jane Montealegre, PhD, MSPH (MD Anderson Cancer Center); Rolando Herrero, MD, PhD (Costa Rican Agency for Biomedical Research/NCI); Francisco Garcia, MD, MPH (University of Arizona/Pima County); and Nancy Peña, ACS-LION, ONP-CG, CMI, BS (Navegación de Pacientes Internacional/Dana-Farber Cancer Institute).