Cervical Cancer Facts and Figures

Incidence

• Cervical cancer accounts for 2% of all new cancer cases in women.
• The Age Standardized Incidence Rate (ASIR) of cervical cancer was 7.5 per 100,000 women in 2004.
• Most cervical cancer (67%) occurs in women aged 30-59.
• Incidence rates of cervical cancer have decreased steadily over the past several decades. This is likely due to increased use of the Pap Smear Test for detecting pre-invasive lesions.

Age standardized incidence and mortality rates women cervical cancer, Canada, 1972-2004

Mortality

• In 2004 cervical cancer represented 1.2% (388) of all cancer deaths in women.
• The Age Standardized Mortality Rate (ASMR) for cervical cancer has declined steadily over the past several decades. The decline can be attributed to prevention and also screening (i.e. Pap smear/test) leading to early detection.

Survival

• Five year relative survival rates are approximately 74% for women.

* Data source is from the Canadian Cancer Registry Database (Orius system)