Cervical Cancer is a disease in which cancer cells form in the tissues of the cervix, a part of a woman’s reproductive system.3 The American Cancer Society estimates 9,710 cases of invasive cervical cancer will be diagnosed and nearly 4 times this amount will be non-invasive in 2006 in the United States. Of this 9,710 cases, about 3,700 people will die from the disease 5.

 Risk Factors

            HPV, Human Papillomavirus, is the most common cause of cervical cancer. There are over 100 types of the virus, but only 15 types cause cervical cancer. HPV is contracted through sexual intercourse. You have a higher risk of having HPV if you have had many partners or any of your partners have had many. Smoking, a weakened immune system or having many children increase the risk of a HPV virus turning to cancer.

             Not having regular pap tests is another risk factor. Doctor’s have the ability to find and treat pre-cancerous cells before they become cancer. This often prevents cancer from ever occurring. Pap tests are not 100% accurate. Most cervical changes happen slowly. If cell changes were missed during the pap test, the cells may be found during the next screening. Because of the increased use of pap tests between 1955 & 1992, according the ACS, cervical cancer deaths decreased by 74% in the United States 5.

             Diethylstilbestrol (DES) may increase the risk of getting a rare form of cervical cancer and other cancers of the reproductive system if exposed to before birth. During 1940-1971 doctor’s prescribed this synthetic form of hormone estrogen to pregnant women, since then it is no longer prescribed to pregnant women 1.

 Reduce the Risks

• Abstinence is the one 100% way to not contract HPV.
• Using condoms during intercourse is one way to reduce the risk of getting HPV by 70% 6.
• Gardasil is a HPV vaccination to prevent cervical cancer from ever forming. The vaccine can reduce a woman’s risk by 70% 4.
• Get routine pap tests.
• Ask your doctor about being tested for HPV.

 1. NCI booklet, “What You Need to Know about Cancer of the Cervix”
2. NCI booklet, “Understanding Cervical Changes”
3. NCI website, www.cancer.gov,
4. Taipei Times, Dec. 20, 2006, New HPV Vaccine Hits the Shelves
5. ACS website, www.cancer.org, What are the Key Statistics about Cervical Cancer?
6. ACS website, www.cancer.org, Can Cervical Cancer be Prevented?