African American Women and Cervical Cancer

According to a recent article provided by the National Cancer Institute, cervical cancer rates have fallen in African American women, however, African Americans' chances of developing the disease are about 39 percent higher than those of white women, and are twice as likely to die from the disease. These disparities are seen even though screening rates are similar in African American and white women. The poorer outcomes in African American women could result from poorer quality screening or inadequate follow up tests when abnormal results come from screening. So in addition to making sure to get screened, it is very important to find out your test results and to make sure to get any needed follow up tests or procedures.

The reason that cases of cervical cancer and deaths from this disease have gone down is that more and more women are getting the Pap test, a simple procedure that lets your doctor find cells in your cervix that have changed in ways that could eventually develop into cancer.

Many experts recommend that women have a Pap test every 3 years beginning at age 21. In women over age 30, screening with both a Pap test and a test to detect cancer-causing types of human papillomavirus (HPV) is recommended. Infections with certain types of HPV cause essentially all cervical cancer. HPV can be transmitted during many kinds of sexual contact, even when a condom is used, and HPV infections are very common. However, most infections go away on their own. Infections that do not go away on their own can cause cells to become abnormal and, eventually, cancer. But if abnormal or precancerous cells are found early, they can be treated before they become cancer.

**The above information was obtained from an article provided by the National Cancer Institute's monthly Lifelines education and awareness print series.