Study Finds Cervical Cancer Rate For Women 65 To 69 Years Old Is 84 Percent Higher Than Previously Thought

From MedlinePlus, "U.S. Cervical Cancer Rates Higher Than Thought: Rates highest in women 65 to 69, and black women, say researchers using revised data" by Robert Preidt:

Previous studies had estimated that the U.S. cervical cancer rate was about 12 cases per 100,000 women, that the highest rates were in women between ages 40 and 44 and that they then leveled off.

But those estimates included women who had hysterectomies, in which the cervix was removed. For the new study, researchers excluded this group of women, because they were no longer at risk, and then concluded that the overall rate of cervical cancer was 18.6 cases per 100,000 women. They also found that the incidence rose steadily with age and peaked at ages 65 to 69.

The incidence of cervical cancer among women ages 65 to 69 was 84 percent higher than previously reported, according to the study, published online May 12 in the journal Cancer.