At one time, cervical cancer was the leading cause of death among women in the United States.
Thanks to advanced screening, that statistic has changed.
There are a number of risk factors when it comes to cervical cancer. But there is one risk factor that doctors site as the most important.
"An infection with HPV, human papiloma virus, is the leading risk factor for cervical cancer which is actually the most common sexually transmitted disease in the United States," said Dr. Lin-Duen Clark.
Dr. Clark says there are different types of cervical cancer and the treatments may vary. She also says that - considering age brackets - younger women and older women are more susceptible.
How does one decrease the risk of cervical cancer?
"One can decrease the risk by following a regular OBGYN exam, and pap smear regularly. And furthermore, since the HPV virus is the major attributes to most cases of cervical cancer, you can protect yourself by vaccinate against it," she says.
That vaccine is recommended for women age 9 to 26. Beth Davidann, head of the Wellness Center at Castle knows the importance of screening and prevention.
"I went to my doctor for a regular OB/GYN checkup and I had an abnormal pap smear and that was the beginning of the word cancer in my life. It was pretty shocking and overwhelming," she says.
Beth is a 14 year survivor of cervical cancer - and she has important advice for all women.
"Not only getting annual pap smears or whenever your doctor says you should have them, also mammograms. I also have a family history of cancer and so, colonoscopies and any screening measures, I highly endorse," she says.
