HHS HealthBeat (March 12, 2007)

Still too many

From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, I'm Ira Dreyfuss with HHS HealthBeat.

There's progress against cervical cancer. Doctor Mona Saraiya at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says the rate dropped from 10.2 new cases per 100,000 women in 1998 to 8.5 in 2002.

But black women had 50 percent higher rates of cervical cancer. Hispanic women had 60 percent higher rates.

Saraiya says women need to get regular pap tests. She also says the HPV vaccine could end the disparities – if the vaccine reaches those at highest risk.

"The HPV vaccine is recommended for 11- to-12-year-old girls, and can be given to girls as young as nine. The vaccine is also recommended for 13- to-26-year-old girls and women who have not yet received or completed the vaccine series." (13 seconds)

Saraiya's study is in the Obstetrics and Gynecology Journal.

Learn more at www.hhs.gov.

HHS HealthBeat is a production of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. I'm Ira Dreyfuss.

Last revised: April, 06 2007