Cancer News, Treatment and Research

This video is part of NCI’s Did You Know? series, which highlights key topics and trends in cancer statistics. Did you know that cervical cancer death rates among women in the United States decreased by nearly 60% from 1975 through 2009? The dramatic progress in reducing cervical cancer deaths is largely due to screening and advances in treatment. Persistent infection with certain types of a common, sexually transmitted virus called the human papillomavirus, or HPV, causes virtually all cases of cervical cancer, as well as other types of cancer. These include anal, vulvar, vaginal, penile and oropharyngeal cancer. Even more progress against this disease is possible now that HPV vaccines are available to protect women and girls, as well as men and boys, against HPV. Cervical cancer death rates vary across the United States. Death rates are often lower than the average US rate in the Northern tier of states, and they are higher than the average rate in Appalachia and the Southern tier of states. Parents and adolescents should talk with their doctors about cervical cancer prevention measures, including vaccination against HPV and at what age to begin and how often to have cervical cancer screening. For more about the Did You Know? series, please see seer.cancer.gov