GREENSBORO, N.C. — Cancer touches every American in some way. A new study finds that cervical cancer rates are rising.
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center study found that cervical cancer rates are rising in low income U.S. counties. Not only that but more mortality rates are being seen for older women and women of color that are diagnosed.
Here in the Triad, rising cases of cervical cancer are also being seen. Cone Health OBGYN Dr. Peggy Constant tells WFMY News 2 that the trend has been rising for several years now with the largest population of patients being older women of color.
"There are several components that may contribute to this uptick trend in that population. You know socioeconomic factors lack of transportation and also no symptoms because Cervical cancer is one of those cancers that really does not cause any symptoms or pain until it more advanced," said Dr. Constant.
The caveat in this, Dr. Constant said is that cervical cancer is almost hundred percent preventable with vaccination against Human Papilloma Virus or HPV. Dr. Constant urges women to not wait and get their routine pap smears.
"Make sure you are seeing your primary care doctor and regularly making routine appointments for a pap smear. The recommendation for women is every three years," said Dr. Constant.
While cervical cancer has no noticeable signs, Dr. Constant shares signs and symptoms leading up to a severe case of cervical cancer.
"You will have bleeding not during the time of your cycle but bleeding in between periods or bleeding when you are in menopause. It can also be bleeding after you have intercourse and sometimes it can last one to two or more days," Dr. Constant said.
Lead author, Trisha Amboree, Ph.D. on that study about the efforts being done to lower cervical cancer rates in women.
"A national conversation has been started around this. Specifically the White House had a cervical cancer forum specifically around this trend and scale up screening and prevention so that these trends can be reversed," said Amboree.
The President and First Lady reignited the Biden Cancer Moonshot to mobilize the national effort to end cancer as we know it.