Minority Women's Health

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Cervical Cancer

Minority Women's Health > African Americans > Health Topics > Cervical Cancer

The cervix connects the uterus (where a baby grows) to the vagina (the birth canal). Cervical cancer is a disease in which cancer cells are found in the tissues of the cervix. Before cancer cells are found on the cervix, abnormal cells start to appear. Cancer that goes untreated starts to grow and spread more deeply into the cervix and to nearby areas. Cancer of the cervix usually grows over a period of time.

If found early enough, abnormal cells can be treated before they turn into cancer. Your doctor finds these cells by doing a Pap test.

Get a Pap test every one to three years if you have been sexually active, starting at no later than at 21 years old. After your first Pap test, you should have a Pap test at least once every three years. Talk to your doctor about how often you should have a Pap test and pelvic exam.

African American women develop cervical cancer more often than white women and are more than twice as likely to die from it. Testing is very important to help reduce this disparity.

Almost all cervical cancers are caused by two types of human papillomavirus (HPV), a common virus that is spread through sex. Other types of HPV can cause genital warts. Many types of HPV do not cause problems at all. HPV can't be cured, but you can talk about treatment options with your doctor if abnormal cells grow.

The National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (NBCCEDP) program provides free or low-cost Pap testing to women who don't have health insurance. To learn more about this program, please contact the CDC at 1-800-CDC-INFO (232-4636).

Publications

1.     A Snapshot of Cervical Cancer — This publication contains trends in cervical cancer diagnosis and death rates. It also lists some advances in researchers’ understanding of cervical cancer.

   http://planning.cancer.gov/disease/Cervical-Snapshot.pdf

2.   Cervical Cancer (PDQ®): Screening — This page-by-page explanation of cervical cancer screening provides information about the risk factors for cervical cancer and the effectiveness of common screening methods. It also includes links for prevention and treatment.

   http://www.cancer.gov/cancerinfo/pdq/screening/cervical/patient/

3.   Gynecologic Cancer — This site is designed to raise awareness about the five major gynecologic cancers (cervical, ovarian, uterine, vaginal, and vulvar). It contains many resources on rates, risk factors, symptoms, and other related information.

   http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/gynecologic/

4. A Woman's Guide to Understanding HPV and Cervical Cancer (Copyright © ARHP) — This brochure educates women about HPV and cervical cancer. It includes information on new technologies, with a focus on women currently undergoing screening.

   http://72.3.159.179/Publications-and-Resources/Patient-Resources/printed-materials/Understanding-HPV-Cervic...

5.   Cancer Facts and Figures for African Americans 2007-2008 (Copyright © ACS) — This publication presents the most recent statistics on the rate of cancer diagnosis, survival, and deaths in African Americans and blacks. It also includes sections on cancer risk factors such as tobacco use, physical activity, and the use of cancer screening examinations.

   http://www.cancer.org/downloads/STT/CAFF2007AAacspdf2007.pdf

6.   Frequently Asked Questions About Cervical Cancer/HPV Vaccine Access in the U.S. (Copyright © ASHA) — This fact sheet discusses the importance of HPV vaccines in preventing infection, which can lead to a variety of cancers. It describes Gardasil — currently the only FDA-approved HPV vaccine on the market — and the ages at which girls and young women can get the vaccine.

   http://www.ashastd.org/pdfs/HPV_FAQ_032007.pdf

7.   You Are A Survivor: Living After Cancer Treatment (Copyright © Lance Armstrong Foundation) — This is a brochure written specifically for African American cancer survivors. It raises awareness of the physical, practical, and emotional concerns of cancer survivors, lists resources, and encourages survivors to seek support.

   http://www.livestrong.org/atf/cf/%7BFB6FFD43-0E4C-4414-8B37-0D001EFBDC49%7D/brochure_aa.pdf...

Organizations

1.   Cancer.gov
2. American Cancer Society
3. American Society for Reproductive Medicine
4. Cancer.net
5. Gynecologic Cancer Foundation
6. National Cervical Cancer Coalition

= Indicates Federal Resources

Current as of December 2007