In 2014 it is estimated that over 12,360 women will be diagnosed with an invasive form of cervical cancer and an additional 4,020 will succumb to it (ACS, 2013). These numbers do not include the 249,632 currently living with the disease (SEER, 2011).
While these numbers may not be as astounding as those of let's say breast cancer with an estimated 495,240 new incidences and 40,000 deaths in 2014 (ACS, 2013). The importance of cervical cancer awareness lays in the fact that it is a preventable form of cancer. As a result, even one diagnosis or death is a cause for concern.
Cervical tends to present itself most often in women between the ages of 20 to 50, but it is important to note that over 20% of diagnoses have been found in women over the age of 65 (ACS, 2013). Furthermore, it has been found that Hispanic and African American women in the United States are at higher risks for being diagnosed with the disease (ACS, 2013).
With these facts and figures in mind, let me continue to inform you about the importance of cervical cancer awareness, prevention, signs and symptoms, and treatment options in the weeks to come.
References:
American Cancer Society. (2013). Cancer facts & figures. Retrieved from http://www.cancer.org/acs/groups/content/@research/ documents/webcontent/acspc-042151.pdf
Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program. (2011). SEER stat fact sheets: Cervix uterine cancer. Retrieved from http://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/cervix.html
1 comment:
I had no idea so many women died from cervical cancer. I knew cervical cancer was one of the reasons why women get annual well women exam, but not that it was so prevalent. It makes me wish more women regularly wen to their health care provider to find out what they can do.
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