Detect cervical cancer at early stage

Pensacola, FL

According to the American Cancer Society, more than 1,400,000 people in the United States were diagnosed with cancer last year.

February is "National Cancer Prevention Month". By keeping yourself healthy, you can help prevent some types of cancer.

One of the types is cervical cancer. Cervical cancer can be detected by your gynocologist. It's important to have regular pap smears to prevent cervical cancer, which is caused by the STD human papillomavirus.

"In the united states, HPV counts for about 20 million new infections per year. In fact, about 80 percent of all women will acquire HPV by time they're 50-years-old," said Dr. Rodney Rocconi, U.S.A. Mitchell Cancer Institute.

Dr. Rocconi said sometimes HPV is asymptomatic, and if it's left untreated, some types can cause cancer. But with regular pap smears, at least once a year, cancer can be prevented.

"It usually develops over a period of years into a pre-invasive disease so there's some subtle changes that happens to the cervix that smolder for years without symptoms. So what's very important for women is to make sure they get their pap smears on time so that you can catch it in those pre-invasive states. When done so and done properly, those are always curable cases so it's very important," he said.

If a woman does develop abnormal cells on her cervix, and the cells are detected early on, they can be destroyed.

"Treatment for pre-invasive disease is quite easy. It involves either laser, freezing the cells, sometimes even removing parts of the cells like a biopsy. And those types of surgeries can preserve fertility which is important in the young patient population. Early cervical cancers also have a fairly good cure rate as well," said Dr. Rocconi.

He said prevention is key. That's why it's so important for early screening. He also says women should spread the word to female friends and family to get screened, because it could save their lives.

Dr. Rocconi also suggests that woman get vaccinated against the cancer causing strains of HPV. The Gardasil vaccination has been approved by the FDA for girls as young as nine-years-old.

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Less frequent Pap tests now recommended for cervical cancer screening

New York, NY

Initial cervical cancer screening should begin at age 21 and can be rescreened less frequently than previously recommended, according to newly revised, evidence-based guidelines issued recently by The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG).* Most women younger than 30 should undergo cervical screening once every two years instead of annually, and those age 30 and older can be rescreened once every three years. Annual gynecological visits are still recommended and important for a woman's overall health.

Cervical cancer rates have fallen more than 50 percent in the past 30 years in the United States, believed to be due to the widespread use of the Pap test. The incidence of cervical cancer fell from 14.8 per 100,000 women in 1975 to 6.5 per 100,000 women in 2006. The American Cancer Society estimates that there will be 11,270 new cases of cervical cancer and 4,070 deaths from it in the United States in 2009. The majority of deaths from cervical cancer are among women who are screened infrequently or not at all. Cervical cancer is a slow growing malignancy caused by certain strains of the human papillomavirus (HPV). HPV also is responsible for genital and anal warts, as well as oral and anal cancer.

"The tradition of doing a Pap test every year has not been supported by recent scientific evidence," says Dr. Alan G. Waxman of the University of New Mexico. Review of the literature shows that screening at less frequent intervals prevents cervical cancer just as well, with less incurred costs, and avoids unnecessary interventions that could be harmful, especially to reproductive aged women.

ACOG now recommends that women from ages 21 to 30 be screened every two years instead of annually. Women 30 and older who have had three consecutive negative cervical cytology test results (Pap smears) may be screened once every three years. Women with certain risk factors may need more frequent screening, including those who have HIV, are immunocompromised, were exposed to diethylstilbestrol (DES) in utero, and have been treated for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) 2, CIN 3 (both pre-malignancies of the cervix), or cervical cancer.

Moving the baseline cervical screening to age 21 is a conservative approach to avoid unnecessary treatment of adolescents, which may have economic, emotional, and future adverse childbearing implications. ACOG previously recommended that cervical screening with Pap smears begin three years after first sexual intercourse or by age 21, whichever occurred first. Although the rate of HPV infection is high among sexually active adolescents, invasive cervical cancer is rare in women under age 21. The immune system clears the HPV infection within one to two years among most adolescent women. Because the adolescent cervix is immature, there is a higher incidence of HPV-related precancerous lesions, called "dysplasia." However, the large majority of cervical dysplasias in adolescents spontaneously resolve without any treatment. This means in this age group there may be a higher number of false-positives that are followed by more invasive tests or more frequent Pap smears.

A significant increase in premature births has recently been documented among women who have been treated with excisional procedures for dysplasia, called cold-knife cone excision or LEEP excision, in which a portion of the cervix is surgically removed either in the office or operating room. Adolescents have their childbearing years ahead of them, and surgically treating the cervix with such excisional procedures has been shown to adversely affect their pregnancies. Therefore, it's important to avoid unnecessary procedures. We argue that early screening for cervical cancer in adolescents only serves to increase their anxiety, and may lead to overuse of procedures for a disease that has shown to resolve usually on its own.

Routine cervical cytology testing should be discontinued in women (regardless of age) who have had a total hysterectomy (removal of the cervix along with the uterus) for noncancerous reasons, as long as they have no history of high-grade dysplasia.

ACOG's recommendations on the upper age limit for discontinuing cervical screening remain the same. It is reasonable to stop cervical cancer screening by age 70 among women who have three or more consecutive negative Pap smear results and no abnormal test results in the past 10 years. ACOG also recommends that women who have been vaccinated against HPV should follow the same screening guidelines as unvaccinated women.

Of importance to impress on our patients is that annual gynecologic examinations are still appropriate and recommended, even if cervical screening with a Pap smear is not performed at each visit. There's more to a visit to the gynecologist than just the Pap smear.

Why should you believe this study? ACOG is the nation's leading group of professionals providing health care for women. Recommendations are evidence based and highly regarded among health care professionals. www.acog.org

*ACOG is formerly known as The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.

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Early detection is key to prevent cervical cancer

Recent Pap test recommendations and new vaccine approvals have brought cervical cancer screening into the spotlight and may have some women confused about what to do to protect themselves. Experts agree that routine screening is essential in the fight against cervical cancer, which is entirely preventable because it has a known cause-"high-risk" types of the human papillomavirus, or HPV.

According to the American Cancer Society, more than 11,000 women in the U.S. are diagnosed with cervical cancer each year. Eight out of 10 women are estimated to get HPV at some point in their lives, but the virus usually goes away on its own. However, infection with certain high-risk types of HPV may persist in some women and cause abnormal cells to develop into cervical cancer.

"We now have a full range of tools to protect future-and current-generations of women from developing cervical cancer, including vaccines, the Pap test and the HPV test," says Dr. Marie Savard, ABC News Medical Contributor and author of "Ask Dr. Marie: Straight Talk And Reassuring Answers To Your Most Private Questions." "Each tool has its own distinct function, so it's important to know the age recommendations, differences and how the tools can be used together to prevent cervical cancer."

Advances In Cervical Cancer Prevention

Screening technologies such as Pap and HPV testing allow for early detection of cervical cancer, while vaccines for girls and young women ages 9-26 can prevent future infections with certain cancer-causing HPV strains. Recently, the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists changed its Pap test screening recommendations to begin at age 21 and continue every other year. These new guidelines also say that women 30 and over can have a Pap test every three years when the Pap is "normal."

Doctors use Pap and HPV tests to determine a woman's risk for cervical cancer. A Pap looks for abnormal or precancerous cells caused by HPV, while the HPV test detects high-risk strains of the virus itself. HPV testing, performed together with the Pap in women age 30 and older, identifies women with high-risk HPV infections that can cause cervical cancer, enabling diagnosis and treatment to be put in place before cervical disease develops.

For women age 30 and older, who are at the greatest risk for cervical cancer, both tests can be performed at the same time and are covered by most insurance plans. Women with abnormal Pap results or who test positive for high-risk HPV should be monitored more closely by health care professionals so that any cell changes can be tracked and treated-before they can become cervical cancer.

"I had barely heard of HPV and yet here I was, diagnosed with cervical cancer at age 34," says Lori Stone, a cancer survivor and founder of the Pacific Northwest Cervical Health Coalition. "After years of normal Paps, an HPV test called the digene HPV Test alerted my doctor to do more follow-up, and we were able to catch my cancer at a stage when it was still very treatable."

Early detection of abnormal cervical cells is key so you can be closely monitored and treated accordingly. Take an active role in cervical cancer prevention! Be your own best advocate-ask your doctor what prevention tools are right for you: Pap testing, HPV testing and HPV vaccination.
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New report shows Tennessee's policies to prevent cervical cancer are falling short

Chattanooga, TN

According to a new report, Tennessee is falling short in its legislative efforts to combat cancer. How Do You Measure Up?: A Progress Report on State Legislative Activity to Reduce Cancer Incidence and Mortality evaluates each state’s legislative activity on six issues key to winning the fight against cancer. Developed by the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN), the advocacy affiliate of the American Cancer Society, the report finds that Tennessee met none of the benchmarks set for six issues.

“Our state legislators can play an important role in the war against cancer by passing legislation that can help reduce the toll this disease takes on our state and save lives,” said Bill Evans, an ACS CAN volunteer. “We all have a responsibility to fight back against a disease that kills 13,340 in Tennessee each year by enacting laws and policies that eliminate barriers for the proper diagnosis, treatment and care of cancer patients.”

How Do You Measure Up? details state efforts around health care coverage, prevention and quality of life measures. The report measures state policies (as a result of a legislative vote or a ballot initiative) on six specific issues: breast and cervical cancer early detection program funding; access to care for the uninsured; colorectal screening coverage laws; smoke-free laws; pain management; and tobacco taxes. A color-coded system is used to identify how well a state is doing. Green represents the benchmark position with well-balanced policies and good practices; yellow indicates moderate movement toward the benchmark and red shows where states are falling short.

In addition to the specific areas that were rated, the report also examines how states are measuring up on issues such as the affordability of health coverage on the individual market or through Medicaid for low-income populations. It also details state efforts to fund tobacco prevention and cessation programs and as well as state investments in nutrition and physical activity promotion.

“As advocates, we have the responsibility to educate the public on the many ways to prevent and fight cancer effectively at the state level, but we cannot do it unless state and local policymakers take action,” said Mr. Evans. “In most cases, the solutions we offer will save the state millions of dollars in health care costs and increased worker productivity. In many cases, it costs the state little or nothing to do the right thing.”

This past legislative session, volunteer advocates worked to pass comprehensive colorectal cancer screening legislation that would have created the framework for a screening program for the underserved and would have required insurance companies to cover colorectal cancer screenings. However, the proposed legislation got rolled over to the second half of the legislative session, which begins in January 2010.

How Tennessee measures up:
Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program Funding: Yellow

The Uninsured: Red

Colorectal Screening Coverage Laws: Red

Smoke-free Laws: Red

Pain Management: Red

Tobacco Taxes: Red

Throughout the past year, state legislatures across the country have made great advances in the fight against cancer. In the last year, 12 states and the District of Columbia have passed or implemented tobacco tax increases, bringing to 46 the total number of states with tobacco tax increases since 2002. Six more states implemented comprehensive smoke-free laws, protecting workers and patrons from the hazards of secondhand smoke. And many states are working on policies and programs to reduce cancer risk related to poor nutrition, lack of physical activity and obesity.

In addition, many state legislatures fought hard to preserve coverage for lifesaving cancer screenings and treatments and to stave off attempts to cut state funds that support these programs, such as the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program.

In 2009, more than 1.4 million people in the United States will be diagnosed with cancer and more than 562,000 people will die from the disease. In Tennessee this year, 32,570 people will be diagnosed with cancer and another 13,340 will die of the disease.

For state-by-state details or a copy of the complete report, please visit www.acscan.org.

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Smoking is independent risk factor for cervical cancer in women with oncogenic HPV types: Presented at IPV

Malmo, Sweeden

New research confirms that smoking is an independent risk factor for cervical cancer in women with oncogenic human papillomavirus (HPV) types, researchers stated here at the 25th International Papillomavirus (IPV) Conference.

"We must emphasise cervical cancer prevention among women exposed to tobacco smoke," said Aline Simen-Kapeau, PhD, National Institute for Health and Welfare, Oulu, Finland, on May 12.

The researchers noted that the strong correlation between smoking and exposure to oncogenic HPV types makes determining the independent role of smoking in cervical carcinogenesis difficult. This study was designed to determine that role.

Data from 5 large Nordic country serum banks with samples from >1 million people were correlated to national cancer registries (1973-2003).

The researchers retrieved serum samples from 588 women who developed invasive cervical cancer and 2,861 matched control subjects.

The serum samples were analysed for cotinine and antibodies to oncogenic HPV types 16 and 18, herpes simplex virus type 2, and Chlamydia trachomatis.

The risk of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the cervix was found to be associated with smoking among heavy smokers in the HPV16-/HPV18-seropositivegroup (odds ratio [OR] = 2.7; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.7-4.3).

After adjustment for HPV16/18 antibodies, a similar risk of cervical cancer was found among heavy smokers (OR = 3.2; 95% CI, 2.6-4.0).

The risk increased with older age at diagnosis and with increasing cotinine levels.

"This study confirms that smoking is an independent risk factor for cervical cancer in women infected with oncogenic HPVs," the researchers concluded.

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Cervical Cancer Risk Persists After Age 50

Older women with several negative smear test results at same risk as younger counterparts

Women over the age of 50 who have several consecutive negative smear test results are at similar risk of cervical cancer as their younger counterparts with the same test history, according to a study published online April 24 in BMJ.

Matejka Rebolj, of Erasmus Medical Center in Rotterdam, Netherlands, and colleagues analyzed data on 218,847 women aged 45 to 54 years and 445,382 women aged 30 to 44 years who had three consecutive negative smear test results. The researchers looked at 10 year cumulative cervical incidence.

There were 105 women in the 30 to 44 age group who developed cervical cancer within 2,595,964 woman years, and 42 in the 45 to 54 age group within 1,278,532 woman years, the researchers found. Screening levels were similar for both groups throughout the follow-up period, and the cumulative incidence rate in the younger and older age groups was 41 in 100,000 and 36 in 100,000, respectively, the investigators found.

"Our conclusion lends support to the current cervical cancer screening guidelines in England and other developed countries, which do not discriminate women by age up to 60 to 65," the authors write. "Whether individual tailoring of recommendations for further screening by using the information on individual screening histories would be an efficient and feasible alternative to the current fixed schedule in any age group remains to be explored."

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Warning signs of cervical cancer

Selma,AL

New information regarding cancers flashes across televisions screens nearly weekly. Recently, though, the human papillomavirus has come to the forefront because it links cancer to sexually transmitted diseases.

There are more than 80 types of HPV, and certain types can cause cervical cancer. In fact, HPV is the most common cause of the disease.

Research scientists are still learning about cervical cancer and others everyday. According to the National Cancer Institute, 11,070 new cases of cervical cancer were found in 2008. The cancer caused 3,870 deaths.

“Cervical cancer seems to have come into the spotlight lately because of all the commercials for vaccines,” said Luella Giles, health initiative representative at the American Cancer Society’s Montgomery office. “Some states like Texas and California are requiring girls to get the vaccination.”

The Guardasil vaccination can be administered to females from nine to 26-years-old. This vaccine prevents four types of HPV. Two can cause cancer and two can cause genital warts. Two symptoms of cervical cancer that should raise a red flag are abnormal vaginal bleeding and increased vaginal discharge.

“If women think there is a possibility they have a problem, then it is better to go to a physician and get checked,” said UAB Director of Gynecologic Oncology Dr. Ronald D. Alvarez. “Waiting never helps the problem.”

The National Cancer Institute lists risk facts of developing cervical cancer. Some are obvious — HPV infection and smoking — while others are lesser known — seven or more full-term pregnancies and long-term use of oral contraceptives.

There are several ways to prevent being infected with HPV. Included among them is avoiding sexual activity, getting vaccinated and using another means of birth control.

Early detection can be achieved through regular pelvic exams and Pap tests to find abnormal cells.

If there is any sign of cancer, the physician will typically use a coloscope — a bright light with a magnifying lens to make tissue easier to see — or perform a biopsy.

According to the National Cancer Institute, there are four ways to perform a biopsy. The punch biopsy uses a sharp tool to pinch off a small sample of the cervical tissue. In a LEEP the doctor uses an electric wire loop to slice off a thin, round piece of cervical tissues. The doctor uses a curette, a small, spoon-shaped instrument, to scrape a small sample of tissue from the cervix in an endocervical curettage. The doctor removes a cone-shaped sample of tissue during a conization, or cone biopsy, which lets the pathologist see if abnormal cells are in the tissue beneath the surface of the cervix. The doctor may do this test in the hospital under general anesthesia.

“If you are concerned about which biopsy is the best, then ask your doctor,” said Giles. “Don’t forget that you have every right to ask for a second opinion.”

If cervical cancer is detected, there are three routes of treatment — surgery, radiation and chemotherapy. A physician may see it fit to use a combination of the three.

After successful treatment, the battle isn’t over. Many survivors join support groups to let each other know they are not alone.

“Support groups are just one way to get back to normal life,” said Giles. “Cancer does not have to be stop your day-to-day life.”

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Study: Higher risk of cervical cancer for women on birth control pill

A recent study states that women who use birth control pills have an increased risk of developing cervical cancer. Although the risk does fall once the pill is stopped—the risk returns to that of “never-users” within ten years of stopping—taking oral contraceptives for five or more years was associated with a doubling of cervical cancer risk.

The study results originated from new data analysis from 24 global studies and is considered “one of the most rigorous examinations of cervical cancer risk in oral contraceptive users ever conducted,” according to WebMD. The analysis of published and previously unpublished data involved over 16,500 cervical cancer patients and 35,500 women who were never diagnosed with cervical cancer. Epidemiologist Jane Green, MD, study lead, said, “We have known that women on the combined estrogen pill are at increased risk [for cervical cancer]. What we haven’t known is what happens after they stop taking the pill.”

Routine cervical cancer screening in developed countries—such as the United States—has led to marked decreases in ovarian cancers. For instance, for 1,000 women in more developed countries who use the pill are between the ages of 20 and 30, the researchers estimated that less than one extra cancer—4.5 in women who take the drugs versus 3.8 for never-users—can be expected by age 50. Conversely, in less developed countries, the risk was estimated to be 8.3 cases per 1,000 decade-long oral contraceptive users versus 7.3 cases for every 1,000 women who never took oral contraceptives.

The sexually transmitted human papillomavirus—HPV—is one of the major and most preventable risk factors for cervical cancer. Having multiple childbirths is also considered a risk for cervical cancer. Because of this, when looking at risks related to oral contraceptive use, a review of whether women gave birth to fewer babies because of the drug must also be conducted, according to Peter Sasieni, PhD, of London’s Wolfson Institute for Preventive Medicine. Also, because oral contraceptive use reduces a woman’s risk of developing ovarian and endometrial cancer, Sasieni and Green agree that the drug’s benefits may outweigh the risks for most women. Regardless, “Regular screening is important for all women, but especially for those taking oral contraceptives,” Sasieni says. Symptoms of cervical cancer include painful sex, vaginal bleeding, and discharge.

HPV infection of the cervix is a sexually transmitted disease—or STD. Because the virus may remain in the body for life, a prior HPV infection in the patient or her partner can cause abnormal cervical cell changes years later. Because HPV infection usually does not cause symptoms and often resolves without causing any problems, women and their partners may not be aware of a current or past HPV infection. Cervical cancer risks also include having an impaired immune system, such as what is seen in women with HIV (human immunodeficiency virus); being exposed to DES (diethylstilbestrol) before birth; and having a history of smoking or being exposed to second-hand smoke.

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Study: Female smokers may increase risk of cervical cancer

University Park, PA

A study released last month by the Penn State College of Medicine has added yet another negative effect to smoking -- a potential for an increased level of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) in women already infected.
"Our study is the first to show that there is a biological marker between tobacco smoke and the virus that causes cancer," said Craig Meyers, researcher and professor in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at the College of Medicine at the Hershey Medical Center.
The study was conducted to discover the effect of smoking on women specifically, according to a Penn State Live statement posted Thursday. The study was released in the January 2008 issue of the Journal of Virology, part of the American Society of Microbiology.
Results showed that exposure to cigarette smoke containing cancer-causing carcinogen can increase the HPV levels in cervical mucus by up to 10 times. The three most commonly associated types of HPV all showed elevated levels when exposed to the carcinogen. HPV can lead to women's cervical cancer, which is the third-leading type of cancer in women.
"If a woman with the initial signs of HPV continues to smoke, it is likely that she will be back at the Ob-Gyn for surgery. But if she stops, she may never have to be seen again," Meyers said. More >>

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Ask Dr. Weil: Is the HPV cervical cancer vaccine safe?

December 11, 2007

This Q&A was published in the Rock Mountain News: "HPV vaccine a sure lifesaver for thousands."

I have a teenage daughter, and I'm wondering about getting her the vaccine that prevents cervical cancer. Is it really safe?

The vaccine you're wondering about protects against infection with two strains of the human papillomavirus (HPV), which are responsible for 70 percent of all cases of cervical cancer.

The FDA approved the vaccine (Gardasil) in June 2006, and that same month, a federal advisory panel on immunization practices recommended that all 11- and 12-year-old girls be vaccinated. More than half of all men and women pick up HPV within a year of becoming sexually active. The vaccine won't work for women who are already infected with HPV, which is why it's important to immunize young girls before they become sexually active.

In 90 percent of all cases, HPV infections clear up on their own and cause no obvious symptoms (except, in some cases, genital warts; the new vaccine will also protect women against the viruses responsible for 90 percent of all cases of warts).

About 10,000 women in the United States develop cervical cancer every year, and the disease leads to about 3,900 deaths annually. Most of those cases and deaths could be prevented if all women had Pap smears. Worldwide, cervical cancer kills more than 288,000 women a year.

The vaccine undoubtedly will save thousands of lives around the world among your daughter's generation and future generations of women.

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FDA Black Box Warning: Anemia drugs may elevate risk of cervical cancer progression

December 6, 2007
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration in March slapped its strictest "black box" warning label on anemia drugs made by Amgen and Johnson & Johnson after study raises concerns about use by patients with cervical cancer.

Amgen Inc (AMGN) said on Thursday it is talking with U.S. regulators about updating safety warnings for anemia drugs, after data from two studies stoked concerns about their use by breast and cervical cancer patients.

Amgen also said it has been advised there will be an Oncologic Drugs Advisory Committee meeting in the first quarter of 2008 as part of the review of the entire class of oxygen-boosting erythropoiesis-stimulating agent (ESA) drugs. More >>

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Despite Cervical Cancer Link, Docs Defend Pill

Rise in Cancer Risk Small, Reversible, Doctors Say in New Study

November 8, 2007

The oral contraceptives used by more than 100 million women worldwide are coming under increasing fire.

Earlier this week, a Belgian study found that the pill causes artery-clogging plaque, which increases the risk of heart disease. And Thursday a study published in the British journal Lancet reiterates the link between the pill and cervical cancer.

If there's any good news for those taking oral contraceptives, it's that the new research suggests a higher risk of cervical cancer is reversible in the long term after women go off the pill.

Some doctors question whether there is a direct link between cervical cancer and oral contraceptives. This is because cervical cancer is caused by a sexually transmitted virus called the human papillomavirus, or HPV, and some experts believe the message of this study may be misleading. more >>

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Cervical Cancer Survivors Face Long-Term Risk of Second Cancers

According to the results of a study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, cervical cancer survivors have an increased risk of later developing other types of cancer, particularly if their cervical cancer was treated with radiation therapy. This increased risk persists for more than 40 years after the cervical cancer diagnosis.

In 2007, more than 11,000 women are expected to be diagnosed with cervical cancer in the United States. Worldwide, an estimated 231,000 women die of cervical cancer each year, with 80% of those deaths occurring among women in developing countries.

After the diagnosis and treatment of cervical cancer, women may be at increased risk of developing a second cancer. This increased risk may be the result of treatment for cervical cancer (particularly radiation therapy), or the result of risk factors for cervical cancer that also contribute to other cancers (such as infection with human papillomavirus or smoking).

To explore the long-term cancer risks of cervical cancer survivors, researchers evaluated information from cancer registries in Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden, and the United States.

The study included more than 100,000 women with cervical cancer, some of whom had been followed for more than 40 years after their diagnosis. The cancer risk in these women was compared to the cancer risk in the general population.

• Cancer risk in the cervical cancer survivors was 30% higher than the cancer risk in the general population.
• When considering specific types of cancer, cervical cancer survivors were at increased risk of both HPV-related cancers (such as cancer of the oropharynx, female genital sites, and rectum/anus) as well as smoking-related cancers (such as lung, pancreas, and bladder).
• Women who had received radiation therapy for cervical cancer had an increased risk of cancer in organs close to the cervix (colon, rectum, bladder, ovary, and female genital sites). This risk persisted for more than 40 years after the initial radiation therapy.
• The risk of a second cancer appeared to be higher for women who were younger at the time of their cervical cancer diagnosis.

The long-term increase in cancer risk that follows cervical cancer – particularly cervical cancer treated with radiation therapy – highlights the importance of cancer screening in this group of women.


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