Noteworthy Numbers: Cervical Cancer

It is estimated that 14,100 new cases of cervical cancer will be diagnosed in the United States in 2022.¹ Although the disease is very curable when diagnosed early and treated promptly, many women with early-stage cervical cancer do not experience any noticeable signs or symptoms. In advanced stages, however, the disease may cause unusual vaginal bleeding or discharge.²

The survival rate for women with cervical cancer depends on a variety of factors, including the stage of the disease at the time of diagnosis.³ Overall, the 5-year survival rate for women with cervical cancer is 66%. Among women whose cervical cancer is detected at an early stage, the 5-year survival rate is 92%. However, if the cancer has spread from the cervix to surrounding tissues, organs, or regional lymph nodes, the 5-year survival rate declines to 58%, and if it has spread to a distant body part, the 5-year survival rate is even lower (18%).³

According to the American Cancer Society, cervical cancer is most frequently diagnosed in women between the ages of 35 and 44 years, with the average age at diagnosis being 50 years.⁴ It is rarely diagnosed in women aged <20 years, but more than 20% of diagnoses are in women aged >65 years.

The introduction of the Pap (Papanicolaou) smear in the 1950s led to a dramatic decline in the incidence of invasive cervical cancer.⁴ Of note, incidence and mortality rates for cervical cancer in the United States have declined by approximately 50% since the mid-1970s, but have declined by <1% each year from 2010 to 2019.³

Human papillomavirus (HPV), which is estimated to be the most common sexually transmitted disease in America, is found in approximately 91% of cervical cancers.⁵ There are >100 unique HPV types—most of which are low-risk and do not cause cervical cancer; however, high-risk HPV types may lead to cervical-cell abnormalities or cervical cancer. HPV-16 and HPV-18 (often referred to as high-risk HPV types) are the cause of >70% of cervical cancer cases.⁵

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, with regular screening tests and follow-ups, cervical cancer is the easiest gynecologic cancer to prevent.⁶ In addition to the Pap smear, which is recommended for all women aged 21 to 65 years, certain patients aged ≥30 years may choose to take an HPV test. If test results come back normal, the patient’s risk for cervical cancer in the next few years is very low, and her physician may tell her that she can wait as long as 5 years to have her next screening.⁶

References

1. National Cancer Institute. Cancer stat facts: cervical cancer. https://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/cervix.html. Accessed July 27, 2022.
2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Cervical cancer. Updated January 2019. www.cdc.gov/cancer/cervical/pdf/cervical_facts.pdf. Accessed July 27, 2022.
3. Cancer.Net. Cervical cancer: statistics. January 2022. www.cancer.net/cancer-types/cervical-cancer/statistics. Accessed July 27, 2022.
4. American Cancer Society. Cervical Cancer. Updated January 12, 2022. www.cancer.org/cancer/cervical-cancer.html. Accessed July 27, 2022.
5. National Cervical Cancer Coalition. Cervical cancer overview. 2022. www.nccc-online.org/hpvcervical-cancer/cervical-cancer-overview/. Accessed July 27, 2022.
6. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. What should I know about screening? Updated December 14, 2021. www.cdc.gov/cancer/cervical/basic_info/screening.htm. Accessed July 27, 2022.