Cervical Cancer Trends

Incidence Trends

The rates for new cervical cancer cases (incidence) have decreased steadily across multiple racial and ethnic groups, as follows—¹

• 3.6% decrease per year from 1996 to 2005 among all women.
• 3.5% decrease per year from 1996 to 2005 among white women.
• 5.0% decrease per year from 1996 to 2005 among African-American women.
• 5.3% decrease per year from 1996 to 2005 among Asian/Pacific Islander women.
• 4.2% decrease per year from 1996 to 2005 among Hispanic women.

Mortality Trends

In most racial and ethnic groups in the U.S., the rates for cervical cancer deaths (mortality) also have been decreasing as follows—¹

• 3.4% decrease per year from 1995 to 2005 among all women.
• 3.2% decrease per year from 1996 to 2005 among white women.
• 4.3% decrease per year from 1996 to 2005 among African-American women.
• 5.2% decrease per year among Asian/Pacific Islander women.
• 3.1% decrease per year from 1996 to 2005 among Hispanic women.
• No change from 1996 to 2005 among American Indian/Alaska Native women.‡

Even though these trends suggest that cervical cancer incidence and mortality continue to decrease significantly overall, and for women in some racial and ethnic populations, the rates are considerably higher among Hispanic and African-American women. Find more information about cervical cancer rates by race and ethnicity.

‡Any change in the rate recorded for this group was not statistically significant.

Reference

¹Ries LAG, Melbert D, Krapcho M, Stinchcomb DG, Howlader N, Horner MJ, Mariotto A, Miller BA, Feuer EJ, Altekruse SF, Lewis DR, Clegg L, Eisner MP, Reichman M, Edwards BK (eds). SEER Cancer Statistics Review, 1975–2005, National Cancer Institute. Bethesda, MD, based on November 2007 SEER data submission, posted to the SEER Web site, 2008.