Cervical Cancer is Preventable

November 2014

4,000

More than 4,000 women die of cervical cancer each year.

93%

As many as 93% of cervical cancers could be prevented by screening and HPV (human papillomavirus) vaccination.

8 Million

In 2012, 8 million US women ages 21 to 65 reported they had not been screened for cervical cancer in the last 5 years.

More than 12,000 women get cervical cancer every year. Up to 93% of cervical cancers are preventable. Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination helps prevent infection with the HPV types that cause most cervical cancers. The Papanicolaou (Pap) test screens for abnormal cells that may develop into cancer and the HPV test screens for the HPV virus that causes these cell changes. Even though screening works, 10% of women in the US in 2012 reported they had not been screened in the last 5 years. Every visit to doctors and nurses is an opportunity to discuss cervical cancer prevention. No woman should die of cervical cancer.

Doctors, nurses, and health systems can:

Help women understand what screening tests are best for them and when they should get screened.
Screen or refer all women as recommended at any visit.
Make sure patients get their screening results and the right follow-up care quickly.
Use reminder-recall systems to help doctors, nurses, and patients remember when screening and HPV vaccination are due.
Strongly recommend that preteens and teens get vaccinated against HPV.