Cervical cancer is the second most common type of cancer for women worldwide, but it's also one of the most preventable. Now, scientists hope to make prevention as easy as drinking tea.

Shaundra Hall knows first hand the toll cervical cancer can take on your life. She remembers getting the call from her doctor, "I'm sorry to say you have cervical cancer and I need you to get into an oncologist because you have to have a hysterectomy immediately."

At just 28, Shaundra had the hysterectomy. She considers herself lucky, "I was the one in a million that had invasive cancer that did not have to have chemo and that did not have to have radiation."

Ten years later, Shaundra is cancer free. Now scientists hope to prevent this cancer in other women, "We're trying to determine whether this green tea extract can be used to prevent cervical cancer," according to Dr. Sherry Chow.

This first of its kind study is recruiting women who have persistent H-P-V infections, a virus that causes cervical cancer. "We're trying to see whether the polyphenon e can be used to help women with persistent infection to clear the virus," according to Dr. Chow.

Capsules provided by the National Cancer Institute are given to some of the participants; the others get a placebo. The capsules contain concentrated green tea extract, equivalent to about 16 cups of tea. "If we can show that the green tree extract is effective in this group of women, then we can really help to prevent the risk of developing cervical cancer," says Dr. Chow.

There is an H-P-V vaccine available for young girls, but it doesn't protect against all strains of the virus. The first phase of the study should be completed in the next couple years.