Cervical cancer screening saves lives

  • Published
  • By Davenna McGlone
  • McDonald Army Health Center Family Health Clinic
FORT EUSTIS, Va. --  The American Cancer Society estimated that in 2010, 12,200 new cases of invasive cervical cancer were diagnosed in the United States and about 4,210 women died from cervical cancer.

Although these statistics are devastating, cervical cancer is preventable.

Cervical cancer was once recognized as one of the most common causes of cancer death for American women. However, between 1955 and 1992, the cervical cancer death rate declined by almost 70 percent. The main reason for this change was the increased use of the Pap test, according to a 2010 report by the American Cancer Society.

Cervical cancer is highly preventable because screening tests and a vaccine to prevent Human Papillomavirus infections are available. When cervical cancer is found early, it is highly treatable and associated with long survival and good quality of life.

All women are at risk for cervical cancer, which occurs most often in women over age 30. However, younger women are not exempt from getting cervical cancer. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 12,000 women in the United States get cervical cancer each year.

HPV, the main cause of cervical cancer, is a common virus that is passed from one person to another during sex. At least half of sexually active people will have HPV at some point in their lives, but few women will get cervical cancer.

In its early stages, cervical cancer may not cause signs and symptoms. However, there are two tests that can either help prevent cervical cancer or find it early - the Pap test (or Pap smear) and the HPV test. The Pap test looks for pre-cancers, or cell changes, on the cervix that can be treated so that cervical cancer is prevented. The Pap test can find cervical cancer early, when treatment is most effective.

The Pap test, which is recommended for all women age 21 and over, only screens for cervical cancer. It does not screen for any other gynecologic cancer. The HPV test looks for HPV - the virus that cause precancerous cell changes and cervical cancer.

For learn more, talk with your primary care or women's health provider. You can also contact the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention by calling 1-800-CDC-INFO or visiting their website at www.cdc.gov/cancer, or call the National Cancer Institute at 1-800-4-CANCER or go to www.cancer.gov.