Cervical cancer - the facts
- it is one of the most preventable cancers as there is a test, the Pap smear, that can detect any changes in cervical cells before cancer develops
- more than 90% of the most common form of cervical cancer is preventable through regular Pap smears (cervical screening)
- the 2nd most common cancer in women worldwide
- the 11th most common cause of cancer death in Queensland women (2005)
- the 18th most common cause of cancer death in Australian women (2004)
- in 2005, there were 175 women diagnosed with cervical cancer in Queensland and 42 women died from this disease
- the Australian government spends nearly $150 million a year on the prevention of cervical cancer
- deaths from cervical cancer have decreased since the commencement of the National Cervical Screening Program.
Above: Graph showing the decrease in deaths from cervical cancer since 1984 to 2004. Source of information: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW)
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