Winning the Battle Against Cervical Cancer
The 75% drop in the mortality rate from cervical cancer over the past 50 years has come about, in large part, because of the Pap test.
- The American Cancer Society says, "U.S. cervical cancer incidence rates decreased by 75% and mortality by 74% in the 50 years following the introduction of cervical cytology in 1949 and have continued to decrease in the current decade."1
Pap tests play such a powerful role because they provide a kind of early-warning system for cervical cancer. They detect pre-cancerous cells, thereby allowing physicians to stop the cancer before it even starts. If cancer is already present, the tests are able to detect it in its earliest stages, when treatment is most successful and the likelihood of full recovery is very high.
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New Tools
Joining Pap tests in the battle against cervical cancer is a new DNA test that identifies particular high-risk strains of the HPV virus, which causes cervical cancer. Identification of high risk HPV strains provides important information for managing and treating cervical cancer and is generally for women over 30 years of age.
- Further targeting cervical cancer is a new vaccine, approved in 2006, which can significantly reduce the risk of developing cervical cancer. An advisory panel of the Centers for Disease and Prevention recommends that women who receive the vaccine should still continue to be screened because of the potential of infection with different strains of HPV.2
1 Saslow, D., et.al., "American Cancer Society Guideline for Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccine Use to Prevent Cervical Cancer and Its Precursors," CANCER-A Cancer Journal for Clinicians," Volume 57, Number 1, January/February, 2007.
2 See "A Purchaser's Guide to Clinical Preventive Services: Moving Science into Coverage," National Business Group on Health, 2006. Also see, "Quadrivalent Human Papillomavirus Vaccine: Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP)," Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Volume 56, March 12, 2007.