Cervical Cancer Prevention & Screening

The most effective way to treat cervical cancer is to catch it early. When detected early and treated, cervical cancer is usually curable.

Women should begin getting screened for cervical cancer at the age of 21, regardless of when they become sexually active. There are a couple of different tests available. Here at MUSC Hollings Cancer Center, our general guidelines are for Pap tests every three years between the ages of 21 and 29. Beginning at age 30, assuming that no abnormal results have been found, we recommend co-testing every five years — that means getting both an HPV test and a Pap test. The HPV test is a newer test that detects HPV infection.

Collecting samples for these tests is the same process for both, and it happens during one procedure, so co-testing doesn’t mean an extra procedure for you. A doctor will insert a speculum into the vagina to widen it, then use a brush to collect cells from the cervix.

The above recommendations are general guidelines, but the frequency of screening can vary depending on your age and risk factors — talk to your doctor about the best options for you.

Cervical cancer screening

To get screened, talk with your primary care doctor or schedule a gynecology appointment online.

Pap test for cervical cancer

The Pap test, also called a Pap smear, has helped to reduce cervical cancer death rates by 86%. For a Pap smear, the cells collected during the test are viewed under a microscope to see if precancerous cells or cancer cells are present. Often, it takes years for precancerous cells to develop into caner. Finding these cells while they are still precancerous means you can have them removed before you ever get a cancer diagnosis.

HPV test for cervical cancer

The HPV test looks for DNA or RNA from high-risk types of HPV. There are more than 100 different strains of HPV. This test looks for the types most likely to cause cancer. Even if the test is positive, it doesn’t mean that you have cancer. It means that you are at higher risk of cancer, and your doctor may order additional tests or more frequent tests so that you can be treated if the infection begins to develop into cancer.

Cervical cancer risk factors

Human papillomavirus (HPV)

The human papillomavirus (HPV) is one of the main risk factors for cervical cancer. HPV is a common virus passed through sexual activity. More than 42 million Americans are infected with HPV, according to the CDC. Although HPV usually goes away, it can sometimes cause cancer in the cervix, vagina, vulva, anus, throat or penis.

One of the best ways to prevent cervical cancer is to get the HPV vaccine. This vaccine is safe and effective. It works best when given early, before sexual activity begins, so it is recommended for both boys and girls ages 11 and 12. Unvaccinated adults can speak with their doctor about catching up on the vaccine up to age 45.

Hollings is committed to improving community health by bringing care to the patient. In 2021, Hollings launched a mini mobile unit that travels to rural and medically underserved communities to provide access to the HPV vaccine.

Other risk factors for cervical cancer

HPV is so common that nearly everyone in the U.S. is expected to be infected at some point. Some factors can make it more likely for high-risk HPV to develop into cervical cancer. These include:

• A weakened immune system due to HIV or medication that suppresses your immune system.
• Beginning sexual activity early or having many sexual partners.
• Smoking or breathing secondhand smoke.
• Long-term use of birth control pills.
• Multiple full-term pregnancies.
• A family history of cervical cancer.
• Other sexually transmitted infections.

Cervical cancer in South Carolina

Rates of cervical cancer are slightly higher than the national average in South Carolina. In addition, cervical cancer is often found at a later stage in women in South Carolina. Finding cancer early — through regular screenings — is the best way to treat it.

If cervical cancer is detected before it spreads outside the cervix, there is a five-year survival rate of 92%. But in South Carolina, less than half of cervical cancer cases are found at that early stage.

Black women in South Carolina have a higher likelihood of cervical cancer than White women and are also more likely to die from the disease. This disparity is partly due to the cancer being detected at a later stage in Black women. Regular screenings can help to detect the cancer earlier.