The American Cancer Society's most recent estimates for cervical cancer in the United States are for 2009:

• about 11,270 new cases of invasive cervical cancer will be diagnosed.
• about 4,070 women will die from cervical cancer.

Some researchers estimate that non-invasive cervical cancer (carcinoma in situ) is about 4 times more common than invasive cervical cancer.

Cervical cancer was once one of the most common causes of cancer death for American women. Then, between 1955 and 1992, the cervical cancer death rate declined by 74%. The main reason for this change was the increased use of the Pap test. This screening procedure can find changes in the cervix before cancer develops. It can also find cervical cancer early -- in its most curable stage. The death rate from cervical cancer continues to decline by nearly 4% each 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.

In the United States, cervical cancer occurs most often in Hispanic women; at a rate that is more than twice what is seen in non-Hispanic white women. African-American women develop this cancer about 50% more often than non-Hispanic white women.

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 71%.

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. 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.

Last Medical Review: 09/14/2009
Last Revised: 10/28/2009