There is a serious health warning for women, especially those who are in the age group 65 to 69. A recent study has found that there is sudden surge in the rate of cervical cancer in the United States.
According to the researchers, the number of cervical cancer cases is higher than previously thought. Moreover, it’s even more common among older women.
For the study, the researchers excluded women who had hysterectomies as they were no longer at risk. The cervix is removed in hysterectomies.
During the study, the researchers concluded that the overall rate of cervical cancer was 18.6 cases per 100,000 women. The rate is up 55 percent among all women. The researchers found that the cancer incidences rose steadily with age and peaked in those who are between the age group 65 to 69. In women ages 65-69, the rate is up 85 percent. The rate is up 126 percent among the African-American women.
If previous studies are taken into consideration, the U.S. cervical cancer rate was about 12 cases per 100,000 women. Also, the highest rates were found in women in the age group 40 to 44. But the current study shows a significant 18.6 cases per 100,000 women and the age group at highest risk has also changed from 40-44 to 65-69.
Dr. Tara Shirazian, a gynecologist at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York, “All the women who had hysterectomies in a given year were removed from the denominator number, thereby making the rates of cervical cancer higher.”
Shirazian further said, “Due to the exclusion of women with hysterectomies history, the data showed higher rates among certain groups than previously thought.”
According to Shirazian, the study actually looked at age as one specific risk factor for development of cervical cancer and for having hysterectomies, and both those two things increases as women age. Over the age of 50 to 65 was really the group and then they even noticed a second peak in women over the age of 70.
The rate increase was higher among African-Americans because the rates of hysterectomy are higher in that group.
Cervical cancer is caused by the human papilloma virus, a sexually transmitted disease commonly known as HPV.
The findings of the study are published in the journal Cancer.
