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The American Cancer Society estimates that in 2008, about
11,070 cases of invasive cervical cancer will be diagnosed in the
United States. Some researchers estimate that non-invasive cervical
cancer (carcinoma in situ) is about 4 times more common than invasive
cervical cancer.
About 3,870 women will die from cervical cancer in the United
States during 2008. Cervical cancer was once one of the most common
causes of cancer death for American women. The cervical cancer death
rate declined by 74% between 1955 and 1992. The main reason for this
change is the increased use of the Pap test. This screening procedure
can find changes in the cervix before cancer develops. It can also find
early cervical cancer in its most curable stage. The death rate from
cervical cancer continues to decline by nearly 4% a year.
Cervical cancer tends to occur in midlife. Most cases are
found in women younger than 50. It rarely develops in women younger
than 20. Many older women do not realize that the risk of developing
cervical cancer is still present as they age. Almost 20% of women with
cervical cancer are diagnosed when they are over 65. That is why it is
important for older women to continue having regular Pap tests. See the
section, "Can Cervical Cancer Be Prevented?" for more specific
information on current American Cancer Society screening
recommendations.
Cervical cancer occurs most often in Hispanic women; the rate
is over twice that in non-Hispanic white women. African-American women
develop this cancer about 50% more often than non-Hispanic white women.
The 5-year
survival rate refers to the percentage of patients who
live at least 5 years after their cancer is diagnosed. Five-year rates
are used to produce a standard way of discussing prognosis. Of course,
many people live much longer than 5 years. Five-year relative survival
rates assume that some people will die of other causes and compare the
observed survival with that expected for people without the cancer.
That means that relative survival only talks about deaths from the
cancer in question. This is a more accurate way to describe the
prognosis for patients with a particular type and stage of cancer.
Five-year rates are used to produce a standard way to discuss
prognosis, or outlook for survival. The 5-year relative survival rate
for the earliest stage of invasive cervical cancer is 92%. The overall
(all stages combined) 5-year survival rate for cervical cancer is about
72%.
Keep in mind that 5-year survival rates are based on patients
diagnosed and initially treated more than 5 years ago. Improvements in
treatment often result in a more favorable outlook for recently
diagnosed patients.
Revised: 03/26/2008
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