Raising Awareness for Cervical Cancer

The American Cancer Society says about 13,800 new cases of invasive cervical cancer will be diagnosed this year. About 4,290 women will die from cervical cancer. Cervical cancer is most frequently diagnosed in women between the ages of 35 and 44 with the average age at diagnosis being 50. The cervical cancer death rate dropped significantly with the increased use of routine pap tests.

Cervical cancer can often be found early, and sometimes even prevented, by having regular screening tests. If detected early, cervical cancer is one of the most successfully treatable cancers. Gynecologists recommend most women aged 21-65 years should get pap smears (at least) every three years as part of routine preventive care.

In recent years, the HPV test has been approved as another screening test for cervical cancer since almost all cervical cancers are caused by HPV (human papillomavirus). This test looks for infection by high-risk types of HPV that are more likely to cause pre-cancers and cancers of the cervix.

Click here for additional information about cervical cancer.