Cervical cancer cases on the rise; what you need to know about getting screened
January is Cervical Cancer Awareness Month.
Before the month wraps up, watch this video from the Mayo Clinic to get the facts about cervical cancer and learn the importance of getting screened, especially after the age of 30.
What is cervical cancer?
Cervical cancer happens when cells form in the cervix, which is the lower part of a woman’s uterus. These cells grow and multiply, causing damage as they spread.
According to the American Medical Association, certain types of HPV usually cause cervical cancer.
Roughly 13,000 new cases of cervical cancer are diagnosed every year in the United States, according to the CDC.
Here are some statistics from the CDC on cervical cancer among women:
- Most often affects women after they turn 30, but all ages are at risk of developing cervical cancer.
Hispanic women have the highest chance of developing cervical cancer.
Around 4,000 women a year die of cervical cancer.
Black female patients have the highest mortality rates for cervical cancer.
Symptoms can include bleeding after sex, general pelvic pain and vaginal discharge that contains blood.
Symptoms usually show up in advanced cases of cervical cancer; that’s why doctors say it’s important to be regularly screened for cervical cancer through HPV and pap tests to identify any abnormal cells.
The American Cancer Society reported cervical cancer incidence rates are decreasing in women in their 20s, who were first to receive the HPV vaccine.
According to their 2024 report, cervical cancer rates have been increasing each year since 2012 among women between the ages of 30-44.
Preventing cervical cancer
According to the AMA, HPV is the cause of nine out of 10 cervical cancer cases.
The first step to prevent cervical cancer is making sure to get a HPV vaccination.
The second step is getting a cervical cancer screening, which are encouraged for women when they turn 25 years old.
Dr. Robert DeBernardo is head of Gynecologic Oncology for Cleveland Clinic.
Dr. DeBernardo said cervical cancer is preventable and is often the result of the virus HPV, a sexually transmitted infection.
Both men and women between the ages of 11 and 45 years old are eligible to get the HPV vaccine.
“We developed a vaccine years ago, there are several on the market, they are extremely effective at preventing cancer,” said Dr. DeBernardo. “In Australia where uptakes of vaccines are high, they are seeing a decrease in the amount of cervix cancer in that country.”
The vaccine can prevent 90% of cervical cancers, according to Dr. Anthony Armstrong, who practices in Toledo and is a delegate for the Ohio State Medical Association.
“You actually want to give the vaccine to the adolescent before they have sexual intercourse. It is much more effective,” said Dr. Armstrong.
Both doctors said receiving regular cervical cancer screenings is critical in preventing cervical cancer or detecting it earlier.
These include HPV tests and pap tests; regular pap smears can help prevent cervical cancer by detecting abnormal cells early, according to the Mahoning County Public Health department.
In Ohio, there’s a way for residents over the age of 21 to get free or low-cost pap smears.
Contact the Northern Region Breast and Cervical Cancer Project at (419) 335-3907 or (800) 929-6626.
Talk to your doctor if you have questions about HPV infection, vaccination and getting a pap smear.
Cervical cancer on the rise after pandemic
Researchers found that late-stage cervical cancer appears to be on the rise, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
Dr. DeBernardo said that could be due in part to the pandemic and the change in guidelines for pap smears.
Before, women were told to get them done annually. Now, it’s every three years, and in some cases, every five years.
“It’s sort of hard to count by threes. And it’s very easy to kind of lose track of when your pap smear was and our guidelines are such that if it’s done one way than it’s a slightly different screening protocol. I think that may be one of the issues that has led to an identification of more advanced cervix cancer that we’re seeing in the United States,” Dr. DeBernardo said.
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