Nearly 14,000 U.S. women are diagnosed with cervical cancer annually, costing an estimated 4,360 women their lives. January is Cervical Health Awareness Month, which puts new emphasis on the need for regular screening and vaccination to reduce these numbers.
While cervical cancer can develop at any age, it is most commonly diagnosed in women who are between the ages of 35 and 44, with 50 years old the average age at diagnosis.
The Role of HPV Vaccination
Cervical cancer is primarily caused by specific strains of the human papillomavirus (HPV), which is sexually transmitted. The HPV vaccine, which is recommended for preteens but is beneficial for men and women up to age 45, has proven effective in preventing cervical cancer since it emerged in 2006.
Dr. Ruth Stephenson, a gynecologic oncologist at Rutgers Cancer Institute and RWJBarnabas Health, emphasizes, “While a majority of HPV infections cause no symptoms and clear up on their own, some high-risk strains do have the potential to develop into cancer. This is why it’s important to consider the vaccination as a first-line prevention method.”
Nine HPV types, including the seven types that cause most HPV-related cancers (types 16, 18, 31, 33, 45, 52, and 58) and the two low-risk types that cause most genital warts (types 6 and 11) are covered under the Gardasil 9 HPV vaccine.
According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, HPV is responsible for causing 47,984 new cases of cancer a year.
Advancements in Screening Methods
Last December, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force published draft recommendations on how women ages 30 to 65 can take their own test samples for cervical cancer screening.
Women in their 20s are still advised to get a Pap test every three years, while women over 30 can do the same or have a Pap plus HPV test every five years. Women in this age group should still get an HPV test every five years, either at their doctor’s office or through a self-collected sample.
There is the hope this self-collection recommendation, which has proven successful in Australia and Sweden, will empower women to get cervical cancer screening they may have been postponing. Studies indicate that these self-collected samples are as accurate as those collected by doctors.
Emerging Immunotherapy Treatments & The Power of Prevention
When it comes to treating advanced or recurrent cervical cancer, immunotherapy has proven to be promising as it harnesses the body's immune system to target cancer cells. FDA-approved immunotherapy drugs have provided cervical cancer patients with new hope.
Combining regular screening, HPV vaccination, and advancements in immunotherapy significantly enhances the prevention and treatment of cervical cancer. Early cervical cancer usually has no clear warning signs, but all women should be paying close attention to their bodies. Symptoms can include abnormal vaginal bleeding, heavy periods, and pain in or around the pelvis.
Dr. Stephenson notes, “Cervical cancer is the only gynecologic cancer that can be prevented. For that to happen, women need to keep up with their regular screenings and take proactive measures to lower their risk of cervical cancer.”
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Krista Didzbalis
732.507.8307
krista.didzbalis2@rwjbh.org