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An effective means of prevention, expanded treatment options, and improved outcomes have made the outlook for cervical cancer brighter than ever before, but more still needs to be done, as the disease will claim an estimated 4,320 lives across the U.S. this year.1
That’s the assessment of two oncologists practicing with Regional Cancer Care Associates, or RCCA, one of the nation’s largest networks of oncology specialists. In this article, those physicians outline what women need to know about the causes, prevention, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of the gynecologic cancer.
“The overwhelming majority of cases of cervical cancer are caused by persistent infection with high-risk types of the human papillomavirus, or HPV,” explains Mira Hellmann, MD, a board-certified OB/GYN and gynecologic oncologist who practices with RCCA at the John Theurer Cancer Center of Hackensack University Medical Center in Hackensack, NJ. Dr. Hellmann explains that almost all people who are sexually active will be exposed to HPV, but that most will clear the infection. In some cases, however, the infection may persist and – particularly in the case of high-risk types of the virus such as HPV 16 and HPV 18 – cervical cancer may develop.2
“Smoking or exposure to secondhand smoke and having a weakened immune system can increase the risk for developing cervical cancer as a result of HPV infection,”2 notes Hannah Yamin, DO, a board-certified medical oncologist and hematologist who practices in RCCA’s North Falmouth, MA, office.
The cancer specialists note that in addition to not smoking and attending to their overall health, women can take two key steps to reduce their risk for cervical cancer. First, Dr. Yamin says, regular screening is important. “Cervical cancer tends to develop slowly, with the tissues of the cervix undergoing a series of precancerous changes before actual cancer is present. So, seeing your OB/GYN or other healthcare provider and having screenings at intervals appropriate for your age and risk profile is really important.”
The American Cancer Society (ACS) recommends that women begin cervical cancer screening at age 25, and that women ages 25 to 65 should be screened every 5 years.3 According to the ACS, women should receive:
Second, says Dr. Hellmann, vaccination against HPV is an effective means of reducing the risk of cervical cancer. “A 2020 study that followed more than 1.6 million girls and young women over an 11-year period found that HPV vaccination reduced the rate of cervical cancer by about 88%,” the gynecologic oncologist explains.4 She adds, however, that the vaccine is most effective when it is administered before a person has become sexually active and potentially exposed to HPV. For that reason, she notes, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends beginning vaccination – which is administered in either two or three shots spread out over time – at age 11 or 12 years.5 “However, the CDC recommends vaccination through age 26 years if someone did not receive adequate doses of the vaccine earlier. The agency also says that some people ages 27 to 45 years may want to talk with their healthcare provider about whether vaccination may make sense for them,” she explains.
Thanks in large measure to screening and HPV vaccination, the overall rate of new cases of cervical cancer has declined markedly in recent years.6 However, the American Cancer Society estimates that an estimated 13,360 women across the United States will be diagnosed with the disease this year.1 Further, for reasons that are not entirely clear, the rate of new cases has increased by 1.7% annually over the last 8 years among women ages 30 to 44.6
Another troubling trend: 36% of girls and 41% of boys ages 13 to 17 were not up to date with their HPV vaccines as of 2023.1
Dr. Yamin notes that common symptoms of cervical cancer include:
“In most cases, these symptoms will be caused by something other than cancer. So, experiencing one or more of them is not a reason to panic, but it is a reason to see your OB/GYN or other healthcare provider promptly to determine the underlying cause and to take appropriate steps to obtain relief and have peace of mind,” says Dr. Yamin.
If you or a loved one is facing cervical cancer, it is important to know that physicians have more options than ever before to create highly individualized treatment plans based on the characteristics of the cancer and a woman’s overall health. This ability to personalize care has greatly enhanced oncologists’ ability to achieve good outcomes. In fact, the cervical cancer death rate has dropped by more than half over the past five decades.6 Factors that an oncologist will consider when formulating a treatment plan include:
Dr. Hellmann notes that the following cervical cancer treatments, alone or in combination, might be
recommended:
Drs. Hellmann and Yamin are among 100+ medical oncologists and hematologists who practice with RCCA at 26 locations across New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and the Washington, D.C., area. RCCA’s cancer specialists see more than 30,000 new patients each year and provide care to more than 265,000 established patients, collaborating closely with those patients’ other physicians. RCCA physicians offer patients innovative therapies, including immunotherapies and targeted therapy, as well as access to approximately 300 clinical trials.
In addition to serving patients who have solid tumors, blood-based cancers, and benign blood disorders, RCCA care centers also provide infusion services to people with a number of non-oncologic conditions—including multiple sclerosis, Crohn’s disease, asthma, iron-deficiency anemia, and rheumatoid arthritis—who take intravenously-administered medications.
To learn more about Regional Cancer Care Associates, call 1-844-346-7222 or visit RCCA.com.
References
Updated January 16, 2025. Accessed January 19, 2025.
For more information or to schedule an appointment,
call 844-346-7222. You can also schedule an appointment by calling the RCCA location nearest you.
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