Many factors, from unhealthy diet to smoking and starting sexual intercourse at a young age, increase the risk of cervical cancer. However, the primary risk factor is; HPV virus. The HPV virus is known to cause six types of cancer, including cervical cancer. It is said that it is possible to prevent cervical cancer, which especially threatens young women and progresses insidiously. According to the latest research, cervical cancer is increasing in women aged 30-40.
Following decades of good news in the fight against cervical cancer, where there have been steady declines in cases and deaths for decades, a new study shows that some women are being left behind. Thanks to early diagnosis and treatment, cervical cancer rates have fallen by more than half in the last 50 years. Rates are declining fastest among women in their early 20s, the first generation to benefit from HPV vaccines approved in 2006.
According to a report published by the American Cancer Society, the incidence of cervical cancer among women ages 20 to 24 decreased by 65% from 2012 to 2019.
D., a senior investigator in clinical genetics at the National Cancer Institute who was not involved in the new research. “Cervical cancer is one of the best understood cancers,” said Nicolas Wentzensen. “We have made incredible progress and it continues to be a success story.” He stated: However, not all women benefit from this successful progress. The overall rate of cervical cancer among women of all ages is not decreasing. This rate increased at some ages.
ARE YOU TOO OLD FOR THE HPV VACCINE?
The incidence of cervical cancer is increasing among women in their 30s and early 40s. Cervical cancer diagnoses in women ages 30 to 44 increased by almost 2% annually from 2012 to 2019. “We need to make sure we don’t forget that generation that is a little bit too old for the HPV vaccine,” said Jennifer Spencer, an assistant professor of population health at the University of Texas-Austin Dell Medical School.
Fortunately, cancers found in women ages 30 to 40 are often tumors that can be treated early, said Ahmedin Jemal, senior author of the new report and the cancer society’s senior vice president of surveillance and health equity science. Each year, approximately 13,800 American women are diagnosed with cervical cancer and 4,360 die from the disease. Researchers haven’t looked into the reasons why cervical cancer has become more common in some women, Jemal said.