Cervical cancer (cancer of the cervix) is a serious form of cancer that strike thousands of women every year. The cervix is a section of the uterus that runs from the entrance to the top of the vagina, with part of the cervix invisible even with medical instruments.
Race
African-American women, Hispanic women and Native American women have a higher rate of cervical cancer and developing complications from it than Caucasian women.
Age Range
Cervical cancer is most often diagnosed in women between the ages of 25 and 35. Both the number of cases and the chance of dying of cervical cancer rise with age.
Prevalence
In 2006 there were over 9,700 newly diagnosed cases of cervical cancer in the United States alone. The incidence of the disease and the number of deaths from it have dropped over the last several decades, thanks to more frequent early detection.
Other Risk Factors
The biggest risk factor associated with developing cervical cancer is HPV, the human papilloma virus. It's estimated that over 90 percent of cervical cancer patients had HPV. Risky behavior such as a high number of partners is also associated with cervical cancer.
Survival Rate
The survival rate for cervical cancer ranges from 73 to 92 percent. In cases where early intervention occurs, the survival rate rises to over 99 percent.
Prevention
Invasive cervical cancer can be prevented, especially through Pap smears (also known as Pap tests), which look for signs of the cancer during regular gynecological exams. Additionally, the HPV vaccine can reduce the chances of developing cervical cancer.
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