February 13, 2025 | Isabelle Woodrum
At a C.U.R.E. Clinic in Paraguay, one woman (not pictured) made a decision that would change the course of her life. Initially, she walked away from the cervical cancer screening services being offered, telling the Project C.U.R.E. medical team that she was menstruating and didn’t think the screening was for her. Something about her conversation with the volunteer OBGYN’s must have stuck with her, because an hour later, she returned. It turned out to be a life-saving choice.
When the woman was finally screened, it was discovered that she had severe dysplasia in all four quadrants of her cervix. If she had not returned, the condition would have likely developed into cervical cancer, potentially jeopardizing her life. The abnormal tissue was still treatable, and Project C.U.R.E. was training four, local Paraguayan Doctors on the use of thermal ablation.
This powerful moment during Project C.U.R.E.’s Cervical Cancer Screening and Dysplasia Treatment Training Program exemplifies the importance of early detection and the impact that training local healthcare providers can have on saving lives.
The Project C.U.R.E. team recently worked alongside local doctors and medical students in Paraguay, where cervical cancer remains a leading cause of death among women. A team of medical volunteers from HCA HealthOne - North Suburban Medical Center in Colorado, facilitated a week-long training program to teach local healthcare providers how to screen for cervical cancer and treat precancerous lesions using accessible, low-cost methods.
The program began with a lecture for 20 medical students at Universidad Privada del Este, introducing them to Visual Inspection with Acetic Acid (VIA), a simple yet effective technique for detecting precancerous lesions and early-stage cervical cancer. The training also included certification for four local doctors in the use of thermocoagulation, a method for treating cervical dysplasia through thermal ablation. The thermocoagulation machine was donated to the trained providers, ensuring that local providers had the tools they needed to continue their work.
The screening event that followed was eye-opening. The Project C.U.R.E. team, alongside the certified local providers, screened 80 women for cervical cancer and treated 12 for cervical dysplasia. While the team had expected to see a dysplasia rate of around 15%, an alarming 60% of women screened on the first day had signs of dysplasia. Over the course of the week, the rate dropped, but that first day underscored the urgent need for widespread cervical cancer screening in the region.
Dr. Cindy Long, a Project C.U.R.E. Master Trainer, expressed her optimism after the experience: "We were surrounded by very compassionate, young doctors who are committed to being the ones who can make a change in how women receive care in Paraguay. Their enormous hearts and commitment to change give me hope for the future."
Dra. Sharon Storm, one of the local doctors who participated in the training, was equally inspired. "You have strengthened my desire to be a physician. Watching the Project C.U.R.E. Master Trainers has been so impactful. We have learned so much from you, and you are so compassionate."
The Cervical Cancer Prevention and Treatment Program is a vital step in combating cervical cancer in Paraguay, equipping local healthcare providers with the skills and tools they need to make a lasting impact. Through early detection, education, and compassionate care, lives are being saved—and the future of women’s health in Paraguay is looking brighter.
Learn more about the CCP Training Program and how you can get involved.
