Cancer Screening *

What is cervical cancer screening?

Screening is looking for cancer before a person has any signs. This can help find cancer at an early stage, when it is easier to treat. (Source: National Cancer Institute, 2010) To screen for cervical cancer, a doctor performs a Pap test, sometimes called a Pap smear. This test looks for changes in the cells of the cervix. The cervix is the lower part of the womb, which opens into the vagina. The Pap test can find cancer cells or cells that could turn into cancer. (Source: Medline Plus, 2010)

Cervical cancer is a slow-growing cancer and is usually caused by HPV (human papillomavirus). HPV is a group of viruses that are spread by having sex with a person infected with HPV. (Source: National Cancer Institute, 2010; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2010)

Because cervical cancer takes a long time to develop, regular Pap tests may find changes in cells before they become cancer. (Source: National Cancer Institute, 2010) This means that getting regular Pap tests can find cancer early, when treatment has the best chance of success.

Who is at risk for cervical cancer?
Any woman can get cervical cancer. You are more likely to be at risk for cervical cancer if you:

• Have the virus called HPV (human papillomavirus)
• Smoke (Source: National Cancer Institute, 2010)

How does cervical cancer affect our community?

• About 12,000 women every year get cervical cancer in the U.S. (Source: National Cancer Institute)
• In 2008, about 8 out of 10 Michigan women aged 18 years and older had a Pap test within the previous three years. (Source: Michigan Behavioral Risk Factor Survey, 2008)
• White and African Americans in Michigan are more likely to get cervical cancer than Whites and African Americans in the rest of the U.S. (Source: The Cancer Burden in Michigan - Selected Statistics: 1992-2010)
• African Americans in Michigan are more likely to get cervical cancer than Whites in Michigan. (Source: The Cancer Burden in Michigan — Selected Statistics: 1992-2010)
• Every year, cervical cancer treatment costs over $2 billion in the U.S (Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2010)

What is the recommended care for cervical cancer screening?
Women between the ages of 21 and 64 should get a Pap test at least one time every 3 years. Women younger than 30 are more likely to have cervical cancer and may need to get a Pap test every year. Women who have had an abnormal Pap test also may need to a get Pap test every year. (Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2010)

About 9 of 10 women who need cervical cancer screening in southeast Michigan get the Pap test when they should. (Source: Michigan Behavioral Risk Factor Survey, 2008.) You can use the quality reports on this site to find out how well doctors? offices and patients in our community follow recommended care for cervical cancer screening. The report shows how well physicians and patients in each of the major southeast Michigan physician organizations followed the Pap test guidelines. Higher scores are better.