This year, 11,070 women will be diagnosed with cervical cancer and 3,870 women will die of the disease. Women aged 65 and older comprise 20% of all new cervical cancer cases and are 35% more likely to die of the disease versus younger women.
Help us educate older women about cervical cancer and how they can best protect themselves:
- Cervical cancer is caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV), a common sexually transmitted infection.
- Older women who have not been screened regularly and recently may be at risk for cervical cancer. Older women who have had consistent normal results may be able to forgo screening at the recommendation of their health care provider.
- HPV tests detect the virus that causes cervical cancer. An HPV test in conjunction with a Pap test in women aged 30 and older is the most effective way to identify women with advanced cervical disease or cancer.
Older women should ask their healthcare provider about their need for cervical cancer screening and about HPV testing to determine their cervical cancer risk.
