Every year, more than 280,000 women die from cervical cancer; the world’s second-most common cancer affecting women. The good news is that cervical cancer is preventable and in the United States, routine Papanicolaou (Pap) screenings have helped reduced deaths from this devastating disease.
In an effort to educate women and prevent cervical cancer, the Acting Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Richard E. Besser, MD, announced today a new set of community education materials about the human papillomavirus (HPV) for hospitals, schools, physicians and the general public.
HPV is so common that by age 50, eight out of 10 women who are sexually active are infected with it. There are more than 100 types of HPV, but HPV 16 and 18 are considered the most dangerous types and can lead to invasive cervical cancer.
According to studies, half of all women who develop cervical cancer are between 35-55 years old but it is possible that they were exposed to the virus when they were in their early 20s. It is …show more content…
The HPV vaccination helps prevent infection with the HPV types that cause most cervical cancers. Additionally, CDC recommends women 21 and older to have Pap screenings for abnormal cells that may develop into cancer and the HPV test screens every three years.
Even though screening works, in the United States it is estimated that about 10,000 American women will be diagnosed with cervical cancer this year mainly because they are not getting screened.
Women have the power to reduce their chance of getting cervical cancer by getting a routine Pap screening test. No woman should die of cervical cancer help prevent and educate.
For more information and to download free materials please visit: www.cdc.gov or call CDC health information line: 1-800-CDC-INFO.
For media inquires please email media@cdc.gov or call
In an effort to educate women and prevent cervical cancer, the Acting Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Richard E. Besser, MD, announced today a new set of community education materials about the human papillomavirus (HPV) for hospitals, schools, physicians and the general public.
HPV is so common that by age 50, eight out of 10 women who are sexually active are infected with it. There are more than 100 types of HPV, but HPV 16 and 18 are considered the most dangerous types and can lead to invasive cervical cancer.
According to studies, half of all women who develop cervical cancer are between 35-55 years old but it is possible that they were exposed to the virus when they were in their early 20s. It is …show more content…
The HPV vaccination helps prevent infection with the HPV types that cause most cervical cancers. Additionally, CDC recommends women 21 and older to have Pap screenings for abnormal cells that may develop into cancer and the HPV test screens every three years.
Even though screening works, in the United States it is estimated that about 10,000 American women will be diagnosed with cervical cancer this year mainly because they are not getting screened.
Women have the power to reduce their chance of getting cervical cancer by getting a routine Pap screening test. No woman should die of cervical cancer help prevent and educate.
For more information and to download free materials please visit: www.cdc.gov or call CDC health information line: 1-800-CDC-INFO.
For media inquires please email media@cdc.gov or call