ANDERSON, Ind. — While the public view of Joey Martin Feek’s cancer battle revolved primarily around the country star and her family, cervical cancer has received a small but important portion of the spotlight.

In May 2014, Martin Feek, a native of Alexandria, Indiana, was diagnosed with cervical cancer during a routine gynecological checkup about three months after the birth of her now-2-year-old daughter Indiana, according to the IU Health Blog. Martin Feek then had a radical hysterectomy, radiation and chemotherapy as part of her treatment.

After finding out the cancer had spread to her colon, Martin Feek, who with her husband, Rory, rose to fame after an appearance on the CMT reality show “Can You Duet,” had another surgery. In October 2015, Martin Feek ran out of options. In November, Martin Feek entered hospice and moved home to Alexandria to spend time with her family in her final days.

Martin Feek was 40 when she died on March 4. Several doctors agree that while cervical cancer was not a main part of her overall story, it helped raise awareness of the disease.

“It didn’t seem like that was the focus of her publicity, but there is a secondary effect,” said Dr. Jennifer Nemunaitis-Keller, an OB/GYN at Community Hospital Anderson.

“I definitely have seen more in the news and on social media about (cervical cancer),” said Dr. Dracina Wood, an OB/GYN at St. Vincent Anderson Regional Hospital. “I think cervical cancer doesn’t get as much talked about as breast cancer or different types of cancer.”

Cervical cancer is caused by a malignant tumor of the cervix, the lowermost part of the uterus. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 12,000 women in the United States were diagnosed with the disease in 2012, the most recent year for which numbers are available. The cancer was responsible for an estimated 4,000 deaths that year. Those numbers represent a pronounced decline in the occurrence of the disease over the past few decades, something Nemunaitis-Keller attributes to testing. Precancerous cells on the cervix can be detected by routine Pap smears.

“It’s not something we should forget because it’s definitely there,” she told the Anderson, Indiana Herald Bulletin. “I think women know that they need to get routine Pap smears but they don’t necessarily know why or what it’s for.”

The American Cancer Society recommends that women get Pap smears at least every three years. Wood said even though three years can sound like a long time when it comes to detecting precancerous cells, it typically takes cervical cancer several years to grow.

Nemunaitis-Keller said she has heard that some doctors tell women after menopause is over that they don’t have to continue regular visits to a gynecologist, but she said that is not the case.

“If they still have a cervix, it’s still worth doing the screening,” she said.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a sexually transmitted disease that causes virtually all cases of cervical cancer. In recent years, a breakthrough vaccine for HPV, called Gardiasil, has been released.

Nemunaitis-Keller said she doesn’t typically recommend the vaccine to patients because many have already had it administered. Pediatricians are frequently offering the vaccine now since it works best between ages 9 and 26.

“A lot of times they say they’ve already had it,” she said.

But Nemunaitis-Keller said she always recommends it to new patients who are in their late teens to early 20s.

Wood said even though the vaccine is being offered more now than it once was, she wants it to become completely mainstream.

“We’re still trying to get that to become routine for everybody,” she said.

Wood said she thinks Gardiasil could be what cuts down the number of cervical cancer for good.

“With widespread use, I think cervical cancer can continue to decrease significantly in the future,” she said.

Filchak writes for the Anderson, Indiana Herald Bulletin.