According to CDC:
- Cervical cancer used to be the leading
cause of cancer death for women in the U.S.
- In recent years that number has
decreased significantly as a result of many women getting regular PAP
smears.
- Almost all cervical
cancers are caused by Human Papilloma Virus (HPV).
Stats: from Cancer Incidence
and Mortality in Nebraska: 2009/released June, 2012
|
Type
Cervical/uterine 2005-2009
|
0-17
Yrs.
Cases %
|
18-44 Yrs.
Cases %
|
45-64 Yrs.
Cases %
|
65+ Yrs
Cases %
|
|
Reported (306)
|
1 0.3
|
142 46.4
|
116 37.9
|
47 15.4
|
|
Died (78)
|
0
0.0
|
14 17.9
|
37 47.4
|
27 34.5
|
Risk Factors:
- HPV,
HIV, and Auto Immune Disorders.
- It
occurs most often in women over age 30.
- Smoking.
- Using
Birth Control Pills for 5 years or more.
- Have
given birth to 3 or more children.
Signs/Symptoms:
- Early on, cervical cancer may not cause signs and
symptoms.
- Advanced cervical cancer may cause bleeding or
discharge from the vagina that is not normal for you, such as bleeding after
sex.
Prevention:
- Get the HPV vaccine. It protects against the types of HPV
that most often cause cervical, vaginal, and vulvar cancers.
- See your doctor regularly for a Pap test that can find
cervical precancers.
- Follow up with your doctor if your Pap test results are not
normal.
- Don't smoke.
- Use condoms during sex as males can be infected with HPV too.
- Limit your number of sexual partners.
