Stay Healthy

Cervical Cancer

Usually, a cancer is named for the part of the body where it starts. The cervix is the lower part of the uterus (womb). The human papillomavirus (HPV) causes almost all cervical cancer. This virus is transferred sexually and can live many years.

It can be hard to tell if you have cervical cancer because you may not have any symptoms. The best way to guard against cervical cancer is to get a regular Pap test to check for any unhealthy changes in the cells of your cervix. A Pap test can catch these changes before they have a chance to become cancerous.

Women of all ages get cervical cancer. However, women in the following ethnic and socio-economic groups have a greater chance of getting it than others:

• African-American
• American Indian/Alaskan Native
• Asian American
• Uninsured and low income women in rural areas who may not have access to health care and therefore may never have had a Pap test, or have not had one in many years.

Women aged 65 and older have lower rates of cervical cancer than younger women. However, when women in this age group do have cervical cancer, they are more likely to die than are younger women with cervical cancer. About half of all women over 65 have not had a Pap test in the past three years. This means if cancer is found, it will be found at a later stage and harder to treat successfully.

• Medicare helps cover the cost of a screening Pap test every two years. You do not pay coinsurance or the Part B deductible for the Pap lab test. You do pay the 20 percent co-pay for the Medicare approved amount for a pelvic exam.


• The short and easy to read CMS brochure Pap Tests for Older Women: A Healthy Habit for Life explains basic points about the Pap test and also gives information about menopause and hysterectomies that may be part of an older woman's health concerns.