A new study reveals that women in low-income regions of the United States are experiencing an alarming increase in cervical cancer cases and deaths, despite an overall decline in the disease nationwide. This disparity is particularly troubling given the availability of an effective vaccine against human papillomavirus (HPV), the primary cause of cervical cancer.
The research, published in the International Journal of Cancer, analyzed over 119,000 cases from the National Cancer Institute’s registry between 2000 and 2019. It found that cervical cancer incidence was highest among women in low-income areas, regardless of race or ethnicity, with Hispanic women showing the highest overall incidence.
White women in low-income regions saw the most significant increase in cases of cervical cancer that had spread to distant parts of the body, with a 4.4% annual increase since 2007. This group also experienced an uptick in deaths. However, the largest increase in cervical cancer deaths occurred among Black women, rising by 2.9% annually since 2013, despite a declining incidence in this group.
The study’s findings highlight stark racial and socioeconomic disparities in cervical cancer outcomes. Researchers suggest that poor screening practices and difficulties in following up or treating precancerous lesions may contribute to these trends.
“Cervical cancer is almost entirely preventable,” said co-senior author Jane Montealegre. “This continued upward trend calls for scaled-up efforts to eliminate disparities in cervical cancer prevention.”
The study underscores the urgent need for improved access to HPV vaccination, cancer screening, and follow-up care, particularly in low-income communities and among minority populations, to address these growing disparities in cervical cancer outcomes.
See “Cervical cancer deaths rise among low-income Americans” (January 26, 2024)
