Cervical cancer epidemiology and demographics

Overview
Cervical cancer is one of the most common and fatal forms of cancer worldwide.

Epidemiology
Worldwide, cervical cancer is the fifth most deadly cancer in women. It affects about 1 per 123 women per year and kills about 9 per 100,000 per year.

In the United States, it is only the 8th most common cancer of women. In 1998, about 12,800 women were diagnosed in the US and about 4,800 died (Canavan & Doshi, 2000). Among gynecological cancers it ranks behind endometrial cancer and ovarian cancer. The incidence and mortality in the US are about half those for the rest of the world, which is due in part to the success of screening with the Pap smear.

In Great Britain, the incidence is 8.8/100,000 per year (2001), similar to the rest of Northern Europe, and mortality is 2.8/100,000 per year (2003) (Cancer Research UK Cervical cancer statistics for the UK). With a 42% reduction from 1988-1997 the NHS implemented screening programme has been highly successful, screening the highest risk age group (25-49 years) every 3 years, and those ages 50-64 every 5 years.

A study published in 2002 (Castellsagué et al) reports that male circumcision can reduce the risk of penile HPV infection in a man, and so the risk of cervical cancer in his female partner. The authors state that "it would not make sense to promote circumcision as a way to control cervical cancer in the US, where Pap smears usually detect it at a treatable stage". However, Menczer (2004) quotes research that male circumcision probably does not contribute to a lower incidence of cervical cancer in Jewish populations.

One study suggests that prostaglandin in semen may fuel the growth of cervical and uterine tumours and that affected women may benefit from the use of condoms.