Early cervical cancer may not cause noticeable signs or symptoms. Women should have yearly check-ups, including a Pap smear to check for abnormal cells in the cervix. One of the greatest risk factors is infection with HPV (human papillomavirus). A weakened immune system is also a risk factor for cervical cancer.

Most cervical cancers can be prevented. Pap tests are an effective way to detect problems. Once these problems are detected, treatment can stop these complications before they develop into invasive cervical cancer.

Cervical cancer is primarily caused by the HPV virus (99.7%). So a vaccine stopping HPV would appear to stop cervical cancer. Among the vaccines under development, two of the companies are in Phase III clinical trials (Glaxo & Merck) and appear close to providing data to the FDA. These vaccines focus in on HPV types 16 and 18 which account for 70% of the cervical cancers.

In some cases, yes. Pap tests done according to American Cancer Society guidelines and with proper follow up will prevent most but not all cases of cervical cancer. Pap tests can find cervix cell changes early before they become cervical cancer. These cervix cell changes can then be treated to prevent them from becoming cancer. The Pap test will find most but not all cervical cancers at an early, curable stage.

You should not receive a bill for these services, but if you do, call our office at 304.558.5388 or 1.800.642.8522 and ask to speak with someone within our Program.

Click here to download the Michigan Cancer Consortium recommendations for early detection of cervical cancer. (available as an Adobe Acrobat PDF file)*

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Cervical cancer is caused by persistent infection with a common and contagious virus, human papillomavirus (HPV), which is transmitted through sexual contact and skin to skin contact. Cervical cancer begins in the cervix and becomes gradually more invasive if left untreated.

According to the American Cancer Society, approximately 11,150 women will develop cervical cancer in the United States in 2007, and nearly 3,700 will die from it. Worldwide, an estimated 270,000 women die each year because of cervical cancer. In the United States, after breast cancer, cervical cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in women ages 20-39.

Cervical cancer affects women of different ages and backgrounds across the world. In the United States, it disproportionately affects women of certain populations and in certain geographic regions (e.g., African-American women in the South, Hispanic women along the Texas-Mexico border, white women in Appalachia, American Indians of the Northern Plains, Vietnamese-American women and Alaska Natives).

Approximately 2.6 out of every 100,000 women will die of cervical cancer each year. The death rates for white women are 2.4 out of 100,000, whereas the death rates for black women are 5.0 out of 100,000 women, and the death rates for Hispanic women are 3.4 out of 100,000 women.

A diagnosis of cervical cancer and the need for treatment can have a major impact on a woman’s quality of life, resulting in emotional, sexual, reproductive and relationship problems, as well as stress and anxiety. Even being told that a Pap test is positive for abnormal cells, or that an HPV test is positive can result in raised anxiety and stress.

There are several different treatment options for patients with cervical cancer. The most common are surgery, chemotherapy and radiation, and in some cases the use of two or more methods works best. These treatment options all may have profound and lasting physical effects – including early menopause and loss of fertility. Translating medical “jargon”Cervical cancer is a complex disease.