[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2018\/02\/cervical-cancer-health-crisis\/#Article","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2018\/02\/cervical-cancer-health-crisis\/","headline":"Cervical Cancer: Advances in Treatment and Prevention","name":"Cervical Cancer: Advances in Treatment and Prevention","description":"Cervical cancer has become somewhat of a public health crisis in certain underserved communities here in Western Pennsylvania.","datePublished":"2018-02-21","dateModified":"2025-05-09","author":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/hillman.upmc.com\/","name":"UPMC Hillman Cancer Center","url":"https:\/\/hillman.upmc.com\/","sameAs":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/upmc-hillman-cancer-center\/","parentOrganization":"UPMC"},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"UPMC HealthBeat","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/cervical-cancer.jpg","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/cervical-cancer.jpg","height":327,"width":754},"url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2018\/02\/cervical-cancer-health-crisis\/","about":["Cancer Care","Gynecologic Cancer","Women's Health"],"wordCount":432,"keywords":["cancer","chemotherapy","HPV","human papilloma virus","precancerous condition","prevalent gynecological cancer","Western Pennsylvania"],"articleBody":"Cervical cancer \u2014 the nation\u2019s third most common gynecological cancer \u2014 is on the decrease as the result of two advancements:More sensitive Pap tests, which are better at detecting precancerous and cancerous changes in the cervix.The human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccine.Despite these advancements, doctors in western Pennsylvania have seen an increase in the number of women in their 30s and 40s with advanced cervical cancer.Learn more about treatment options for cervical cancer.Many women who are uninsured or underinsured may not have seen a doctor for an annual exam and\/or did not receive the HPV vaccine when they were young. This can put them at greater risk for cervical cancer.function load_upmc_video_1_5jh8n4fc(obj,autoplay){window[\"autoplay_1_5jh8n4fc\"]=autoplay;let $this=$(obj),el=document.createElement(\"script\");$this.removeAttr(\"onmouseover\").removeAttr(\"onclick\").html(\"\");el.src=\"https:\/\/cdnapisec.kaltura.com\/p\/5687602\/embedPlaykitJs\/uiconf_id\/53926702\";document.body.appendChild(el);var waiting_1_5jh8n4fc=setInterval(function(){if(window[\"KalturaPlayer\"] !== undefined){clearInterval(waiting_1_5jh8n4fc);try{let kalturaPlayer=KalturaPlayer.setup({targetId:\"kaltura-video_1_5jh8n4fc_6a0a25e87063c\",provider:{partnerId:\"5687602\",uiConfId:\"53926702\"},playback:{autoplay:autoplay_1_5jh8n4fc}});kalturaPlayer.loadMedia({entryId:\"1_5jh8n4fc\"});}catch(e){console.error(e);}document.getElementById(\"kaltura-video_1_5jh8n4fc_6a0a25e87063c\").dispatchEvent(new CustomEvent(\"videoLoad\",{bubbles:true,detail:{\"selector\":\"kaltura-video_1_5jh8n4fc_6a0a25e87063c\",\"account_id\":\"5687602\",\"player_id\":\"53926702\",\"video_id\":\"1_5jh8n4fc\",\"autoplay\":\"autoplay_1_5jh8n4fc\"}}));}},10);}“A diagnosis of invasive cervical cancer can be devastating both physically and financially,” says Robert P. Edwards, MD, an expert in gynecologic cancers at UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital. “Usually both chemotherapy and radiation are needed to treat it.\u201d“The increase underscores the importance of getting routine Pap tests and the HPV vaccine,” he adds.Getting the HPV vaccine is essential in preventing the virus that causes cervical cancer. Having regular Pap smears is important in detecting the disease at its earliest stages. That\u2019s critical because early-stage cervical cancer is very treatable, with good survival rates and quality of life.When the disease is diagnosed at an advanced stage, cervical cancer treatment is expensive, causes complications and side effects, and often is not effective.RELATED: Coping with Breast Cancer Under 40Facts to Know About HPV and Cervical CancerNearly all cervical cancers are caused by HPV, a common sexually transmitted infection. Almost every sexually active person has been exposed to HPV, which often has no symptoms.The HPV vaccine, which received FDA approval in 2005, is nearly 100% effective in preventing the virus and cervical cancer when given to young women before they become sexually active. The vaccine is given as a series of shots over a period of six months.For girls, the ideal age to get the vaccine is between 10 and 14, although young women up to age 26 can receive it.Although it is not one of the required vaccines for Pennsylvania school children, the HPV vaccine is highly recommended for both girls and boys.Boys can get the vaccine at around age 11 or 12 to prevent them from contracting and spreading HPV and developing HPV-related cancers, including anal, rectal, mouth\/throat, and penile cancers. There are no screening tests for some of these cancers, so they often are late-stage by the time they are found.Editor's Note: This video was originally published on February 21, 2018, and was last reviewed on October 12, 2023."},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"2018","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2018\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"02","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2018\/\/02\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Cervical Cancer: Advances in Treatment and Prevention","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2018\/02\/cervical-cancer-health-crisis\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]