Cervical Cancer Survival Rate - Recent Improvements

Cervical cancer was one of the major causes of cancer-related deaths in the mid 1900s. After the development of the Pap test or Pap smear, which can detect changes to the cells in the cervix, the number of deaths from cervical cancer dropped. Between 1955 and 1992, there were 74% fewer deaths related to cervical cancer than in the previous comparable period.

All women need to understand the importance of having regular Pap tests. It might be uncomfortable; it might even be embarrassing; but having cervical cancer would be much worse. The drop in incidence of cervical cancer has been positively attributed to the Pap test, so there is really no excuse for avoiding this vital test.

More recently, a vaccine against cervical cancer has been developed, and many countries are making this available to all young girls of a certain age. While there continues to be some controversy about this vaccine, the effectiveness of vaccination campaigns will become known in years to come.

These advances in detection and prevention have made cervical cancer one of the most preventable cancers.

Are there risk factors associated with cervical cancer?

As with many cancers, science has not been able to determine why one person gets cancer and another doesn't. However, there are certain risk factors that pre-dispose some women to getting cervical cancer. These risk factors include the lack of regular pap tests, the incidence of the HPV virus, age, HIV.

What is the survival rate for women who get cervical cancer?

The cervical cancer survival rate, like that of most types of cancer, is largely dependant on the stage of the cancer when it was first diagnosed. This system of describing a cancer by the stage it is at refers to how advanced the cancer has developed.

There are 4 stages for cervical cancer, with stage 1 having two parts. The earlier a cancer is detected and diagnosed, the better is the chance of survival. Early stage cancers have greater treatment options. The type of treatment is also determined by the general health and age of the patient.

Stage 1a – this is a very early cancer, invisible without the use of a microscope. The rate of survival is high, between 96% and 99%. A stage 1a cervical cancer is operable.

Stage 1b – while still an early cancer, it is visible without needing a microscope. The survival rate is between 80% and 90%. Treatment options are surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy.

Stage 2 – the cancer has spread to adjacent tissue. The survival rate is now 65% to 69%. Treatment may include surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

Stage 3 - the cancer has spread further and has now affected the kidneys. Survival is between 40% and 43%, and treatment is chemotherapy or radiation or a combination.

Stage 4 – the cancer has spread outside the pelvis area and has impacted other organs and body tissue. The survival rate has dropped to between 15% and 20%, and the treatment options are the same as for Stage 3.

The cervical cancer survival rate is much higher when the cancer is detected early and treatment commenced. This is why regular Pap tests are so vital for all women.