Incidence and Mortality
Rate Trends
Although cervical cancer incidence and mortality
rates have declined approximately 50 percent in the
United States over the past three decades, the disease
remains a serious health threat. Incidence rates for
Hispanic women are higher than those for non-
Hispanic women. Even though the mortality rate for
African American women has declined more rapidly
than the rate for white women, the African American
mortality rate continues to be at least double that of
whites. Geographic and socioeconomic disparities in
cervical cancer mortality also exist.
Cervical cancer is preventable and curable if detected
early. Important strategies to reduce the risk of cervical
cancer include screening with the Papanicolaou (Pap)
and human papillomavirus (HPV) tests, as well as
prevention of HPV infection with the HPV vaccine.
Researchers have identified HPV, which is transmitted
through sexual contact, as the main cause of cervical
cancer.
It is estimated that approximately $1.7 billion1 is spent
in the United States each year on treatment of cervical
cancer.
Source for incidence and mortality data: Surveillance,
Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program and the National
Center for Health Statistics. Additional statistics and charts are
available at http://seer.cancer.gov/.
1Cancer Trends Progress Report (http://progressreport.cancer.
gov), in 2004 dollars, based on methods described in Medical
Care 2002 Aug; 40 (8 Suppl): IV-104–17.
U.S. Cervical Cancer Incidence*
dence per 100,000 Women Inci
1985
1989
1993
1997
0
25
20
15
10
5
2001
2005
U.S. Cervical Cancer Mortality*
ty per 100,000 Women Mortali
1985
1989
1993
1997
2001
2005
0
25
20
15
10
5
NCI Cervical Cancer Research Investment
Millions of Dollars s Billions of DollarFiscal Year
0
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
100
80
60
40
20
0
5
4
3
i
2
1
$4.8B
$4.7B
$4.7B
$4.6B
Cervical Cancer Funding
Total NCI Budget
$81.7M
$79.0M
$79.0M
$83.3M
$82.4M
$4.8B
Trends in NCI Funding for
Cervical Cancer R