JANUARY IS CERVICAL CANCER AWARENESS MONTH

Soror Christine P. Myatt, M.D.

Cervical Cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women in the world. Black women are the second most likely demographic to develop cervical cancer. Each year 2000 African American women in the US are diagnosed with cervical cancer with more than 40% dying from the disease. Hispanic women are the number one demographic to develop cervical cancer. In Hispanic women diagnosed with cervical cancer 26 % die of the disease. Cervical Cancer is one of the most preventable cancers.

As with other cancers, the key to survival is early detection. When cervical cancer is diagnosed early, the 5 year survival rate is 93%. However, when cervical cancer is diagnosed in the later stages, survival rates decrease dramatically. Many African American and Hispanic women have not been having regular cervical cancer screening and thus are diagnosed in later stages of cervical cancer. This issue has worsened during the pandemic.

This article is to inform and empower us to thrive as women to remain healthy and spread knowledge to improve the quality of women’s lives. This is a call to action for all women.

There are many new developments in the area of cervical cancer screening. The article will define cervical cancer including signs and symptoms, risk factors, prevention and treatment.

The cervix is the lower narrow end of the uterus(womb). The cervix connects the uterus to the vagina (birth canal). Cervical Cancer is a slow growing cancer that develops over time. Before the cancer appears, cells of the cervix undergo changes or dysplasia. If abnormal cells are not removed, they can become cancer cells.