Journal of Women's Health - 4

JOURNAL OF WOMEN'S HEALTH an eBook Series Gynecologic Cancer Prevention and Control in the National Comprehensive Cancer Control Program

Gynecologic Cancer
in the United States
Approximately 84,000 new cases are diagnosed
and about 28,000 deaths occur each year from
gynecologic cancer among women in the United
States.1 Five cancers account for the vast majority of
gynecologic cancer cases: cervical, ovarian, uterine,
vaginal, and vulvar. Uterine cancer diagnoses are
common; uterine is the fourth highest incident cancer
among women in the US after breast, lung, and
colorectal cancers.1 Ovarian cancer is the eighth most
common cancer diagnosed; however, it is the fifth
leading cause of cancer death among US women.
Cervical, vaginal, and vulvar cancers are relatively
less common than uterine and ovarian cancers;
however, diagnoses and deaths from these three
cancers still number in the thousands each year.1
The economic burden of gynecologic cancer is
substantial in the US. In a single state (California)
during a 1-year period, cervical, ovarian, and uterine
4 | Liebertpub.com/JWH

cancers accounted for $624 million
in direct health care costs and lost
productivity due to premature death.2
Ovarian cancer was the most costly ($292
million), followed by cervical cancer ($206
million) and uterine cancer ($126 million).2
There are several evidence-based
interventions available to reduce
gynecologic cancer incidence and
mortality; however, there is variable
uptake of these services by women in
the United States. Nearly all of cervical
and 40%-70% of vaginal and vulvar
cancers are associated with the human
papillomavirus (HPV).3 The Advisory Committee
on Immunization Practices currently recommends
routine vaccination against the HPV virus in females
and males 11-12 years of age.4,5
In 2011, only 35% of females aged 13-17 years had
received the recommended three doses of HPV
vaccine.6 The Pap test prevents and detects cervical

cancer at early stages. Recent data show that 83.0%
of women reported guideline-consistent Pap testing
within the past 3 years,7 significantly less than the
Healthy People 2020 target of 93.0%. Pap Testing
rates are significantly lower among Asians (75.4%),
and a small but significant downward trend was
observed in the number of women who reported
receiving guideline-consistent Pap testing over the
http://www.Liebertpub.com/JWH
Journal of Women's Health

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Journal of Women's Health
