This month is Cervical Cancer Awareness month and one local organization is reminding women the importance of getting a routine pap smear.

Cancer Services Program of the Finger Lakes region managed by the Center for Community Health and Prevention is also advising young girls and boys to get the human papillomavirus vaccine.

HPV is known to cause different types of cancer in men and women, but is most known as a precursor to cervical cancer. Those involved with spreading awareness say it's better to be aware and safe.

"I was lucky enough I was married, I didn't have children which I wanted. I was fortunate that laser surgery corrected my issue but normally it's a full hysterectomy. So my daughter was born five years later so she might not have been here and if I had skipped that screening I might not have been here," said Rhonda Justice, Center for Community Health and Prevention.