DALLAS, Dec. 6 (UPI) — Recognizing possible symptoms of gynecologic cancers can lead to diagnosis and timely treatment, a U.S. gynecologic oncologist says.

Dr. Debra Richardson of the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas said women who have gone through menopause, for instance, should not experience any menstrual bleeding.

“Any bleeding — even spotting — after menopause is not normal and should be checked out by a gynecologist,” Richardson said in a statement.

Some common causes of postmenopausal bleeding include:

– Polyps are usually non-cancerous, but these growths can develop in the uterus, on the cervix or inside the cervical canal.

– Endometrial atrophy: the tissue that lines the uterus can become very thin after menopause.

– Endometrial hyperplasia: sometimes the lining of the uterus becomes thick, usually due to too much estrogen and too little progesterone. Some patients may have abnormal cells that can lead to endometrial cancer.

– Cancer: Bleeding after menopause can be a sign of endometrial or uterine cancer.

Bowel cancer also known as colon and rectal cancer or colorectal cancer for short, is one of the most common types of cancer. it affects around 150,000 people a year in the US alone. given that it is particularly common, it is definitely worth learning more about this condition.

Bowel cancer is characterized by the rapid and uncontrollable growth of abnormal cells in this part of the body. it should be pointed out that that the bowel consists of the colon, a long tube connecting the small intestine with the rectum, the rectum itself and the appendix.

The precise causes of this condition remain unknown. However, we know that most types of colorectal cancer develop from polyps. These are tiny tumours forming in the lining of the colon and rectal tubes. most polyps are benign. This means that they cannot lead to cancer. However, some of them are precancerous. These are called adenomatous polyps. the larger the polyp is, the more likely the development of cancer is. despite this, the presence of such polyps does not mean that cancer will develop for sure. for instance, the large adenomatous polyps, which are 2 cm in size or bigger, have only a 40% chance of developing into malignant tumours.

Other bowel cancer risk factors include family history of the condition, other diseases of the colon and rectum, such as Crohn’s disease, and history of certain types of surgery, such as the removal of the gallbladder. a diet rich in fats and poor in fibre can also increase your risk of getting this condition. Smoking can also pose a higher risk. in general, this type of cancer usually affects people who are over 50 years of age. for this reason, aging can be considered a risk fact.

There are usually no symptoms at the early stages of the development of bowel cancer. However, the condition has some serious warning signs that should not be ignored. a sudden, persistent and inexplicable change in the bowel movements is one of the most common bowel cancer symptoms. These include constipation and diarrhoea, but not only. being unable to empty the bowel completely and feeling an urgency to move the bowel are also warning signs. Rectal cramping and rectal bleeding are also causes for concern, even though the latter can be attributed to haemorrhoids.

Changes in the stools are also common bowel cancer symptoms. the presence of dark patches of blood on the stool is a serious warning sign. This is also applicable to the presence of long and thin stools called pencil stools.

Bloating and abdominal discomfort are also common symptoms. Sufferers may experience extreme fatigue and sudden and unexplained weight loss. Pelvic pain is a serious symptom that occurs during the later stages of the development of the condition.

There are various tests for bowel cancer diagnosis. the doctor will usually perform a stool test first. through special testing, blood traces inside the stool can be found. These are early signs of the condition. Colonoscopy is a form of screening, in which the doctor uses a long thin tube to examine the lining of the colon and rectum. Imaging tests, such as magnetic resonance imaging and virtual colonoscopy are also used for diagnosis.

There are various forms of bowel cancer treatment that can be used separately or in different combinations. usually a surgery is performed to remove the tumour. then radiation therapy and/or chemotherapy are used to destroy abnormal cells and prevent them from spreading. Biological therapy is also applied. Treatment is usually successful if the tumour is diagnosed while it is still localized. in fact, 90% of the patients live for five years or more after treatment. it should be pointed out that if a patient is diagnosed with precancerous polyps these can also be surgically removed.

There are various methods which you can adopt to reduce your risk of getting bowel cancer. Having a healthier diet, rich in vegetables and fruits and not abundant in red meats, is highly recommended. the consumption of fibre-rich foods is quite beneficial. This is applicable to exercising regularly as well. Perhaps the best method for prevention is to have regular screening that includes testing of the stool and possibly colonoscopy, if you are at higher risk of developing the condition.

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Cervical Cancer Symptoms after Hysterectomy

Cervical Cancer Symptoms after Hysterectomy

Every year over 11,000 women in the U.S. are diagnosed with this cancer.  Cervical Cancer Symptoms after Hysterectomy If it is diagnosed early, treatment can be successful.  On the other hand, a misdiagnosis can result in delayed treatment.  without the proper treatment, the survival rate decreases considerably and it may lead to death.

There are medical attorneys that will represent victims who had a misdiagnosis of with cancer.  Speak with an attorney regarding the claim; they will evaluate your case free of charge.

How Cervical Cancer Is Diagnosed

Sexually active women should go have regular Pap smears.  While Pap smears are not a diagnostic test, they are used to spot abnormal cells.  If abnormal cells are present, further tests should be ordered to make a positive diagnosis.  Some diagnostic tests include:

Colposcopy – an instrument called a colposcope is used to look at the cervix and see more clearly areas of abnormal cell growth Biopsy – a sample of abnormal tissue is taken from the cervix for testing Endocervical scraping – a specialized instrument is used to scrape tissue lining the endocervical canal, an area the doctor cannot reach with the colposcope Cone biopsy – a cone-shaped piece of tissue is removed from the cervix

Not overseeing diagnostic tests or misinterpreting the results can put off successful treatment options and the consequences can be fatal.

How Misdiagnosis Occurs

Lung Cancer Secrets Revealed Click here

A missed or wrong diagnosis of cervical cancer may occur for the following reasons:

the doctor fails to recognize symptoms of cervical cancer, thereby failing to perform the tests necessary for diagnosis the doctor fails to obtain a full patient history, which is important for identifying risk factors such as Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) Lab results are misinterpreted A laboratory error causes the patient’s results to be confused with another patient’s

There are many types of misdiagnosis.  Delayed diagnosis, missed diagnosis and wrong diagnosis can each have their own consequence.  for instance, a wrong diagnosis of cancer when a patient does not have it can mean a person undergoing treatments that are not needed.  In addition, if cancer was missed, a patient will not receive treatment they actually need to live.

Have you been Misdiagnosed?

If you were misdiagnosed with cervical cancer, there is legal action you can take and with the help of a medical attorney, it can happen.  the negligent party can be held liable and a victim can recover some compensation for damages lost.  This can include lost wages, treatment costs, pain, and suffering.

Contact an attorney to learn more about your legal rights if you have received a misdiagnosis of cervical cancer.  They will evaluate your case at no cost and advise you of your rights.

lung cancer treatment breakthroughs Click here

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The lung cancer symptoms generally do not seem particularly if it is still early stages, symptoms usually appear when the cancer has reached an advanced stage. the lungs are important organs of our body as the respiratory system lung function is to exchange O2 with CO2 which is assisted by HB (hemoglobin).

Lung cancer is a condition where there is growth of abnormal cells in the lungs (the growth of cancer cells in the lungs), cancer is a malignant tumor that grows in the body organs and usually the cancer cells will grow very rapidly and can spread throughout the body tissues including the bloodstream (metastases). Cancer cells can damage every organ system and patient endurance will decrease dramatically when the cancer has reached the final stage.

The lung cancer symptoms

The cause of lung cancer

Smoking is the most basic things that can cause a person has lung cancer, active smokers and passive smokers have an equal risk for this disease, in addition to air pollution also have played a large role in this regard.

Treatment of lung cancer

• Cancer surgery
• Chemotherapy
• Radiation therapy

If you experiencing some lung cancer symptoms such as I described above, immediately go to the doctor.

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1. Symptoms Of Ovarian Cancer
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Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide and accounted for 7.6 million deaths (around 13% of all deaths) in 2008. 1 ? Tobacco use is a major risk factor for cancer. harmful alcohol use, poor diet and physical inactivity are other main risk factors. ? Certain infections cause up to 20% of cancer deaths in low- and middle-income countries and 9% of cancer deaths in high-income countries.? More than 30% of cancer deaths can be prevented.? Cancer arises from a change in one single cell. The change may be started by external agents and inherited genetic factors.? Deaths from cancer worldwide are projected to continue to rise to over 11 million in 2030. Cancer is a generic term for a large group of diseases that can affect any part of the body. Other terms used are malignant tumours and neoplasms. One defining feature of cancer is the rapid creation of abnormal cells that grow beyond their usual boundaries, and which can then invade adjoining parts of the body and spread to other organs. this process is referred to as metastasis. Metastases are the major cause of death from cancer.The problemCancer is a leading cause of death worldwide and accounted for 7.6 million deaths (around 13% of all deaths) in 2008. The main types of cancer are:? lung (1.4 million deaths)? stomach (740 000 deaths)? liver (700 000 deaths)? colorectal (610 000 deaths)? breast (460 000 deaths). more than 70% of all cancer deaths occurred in low- and middle-income countries. Deaths from cancer worldwide are projected to continue to rise to over 11 million in 2030.What causes cancer?Cancer arises from one single cell. The transformation from a normal cell into a tumour cell is a multistage process, typically a progression from a pre-cancerous lesion to malignant tumours. These changes are the result of the interaction between a person?s genetic factors and three categories of external agents, including: ? physical carcinogens, such as ultraviolet and ionizing radiation; ? chemical carcinogens, such as asbestos, components of tobacco smoke, aflatoxin (a food contaminant) and arsenic (a drinking water contaminant); and? biological carcinogens, such as infections from certain viruses, bacteria or parasites.Ageing is another fundamental factor for the development of cancer. The incidence of cancer rises dramatically with age, most likely due to a build up of risks for specific cancers that increase with age. The overall risk accumulation is combined with the tendency for cellular repair mechanisms to be less effective as a person grows older.Risk factors for cancersTobacco use, alcohol use, unhealthy diet, and chronic infections from hepatitis B (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV) and some types of Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) are leading risk factors for cancer in low- and middle-income countries. Cervical cancer, which is caused by HPV, is a leading cause of cancer death among women in low-income countries. How can the burden of cancer be reduced?Knowledge about the causes of cancer, and interventions to prevent and manage the disease is extensive. Cancer can be reduced and controlled by implementing evidence-based strategies for cancer prevention, early detection of cancer and management of patients with cancer.Modifying and avoiding risk factorsMore than 30% of cancer could be prevented by modifying or avoiding key risk factors, including: ? tobacco use ? being overweight or obese? low fruit and vegetable intake? physical inactivity? alcohol use? sexually transmitted HPV-infection? urban air pollution? indoor smoke from household use of solid fuels.Prevention strategies? Increase avoidance of the risk factors listed above.? Vaccinate against human papilloma virus (HPV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV).? Control occupational hazards.? Reduce exposure to sunlight.Early detectionCancer mortality can be reduced if cases are detected and treated early. there are two components of early detection efforts: Early diagnosisThe awareness of early signs and symptoms (such as cervical, breast and oral cancers) in order to facilitate diagnosis and treatment before the disease becomes advanced is important. Early diagnosis programmes are particularly relevant in low-resource settings where the majority of patients are diagnosed in very late stages. ScreeningThe systematic application of a screening test in an asymptomatic population, it aims to identify individuals with abnormalities suggestive of a specific cancer or pre-cancer and refer them promptly for diagnosis and treatment. Screening programmes are especially effective for frequent cancer types that have a screening test that is cost-effective, affordable, acceptable and accessible to the majority of the population at risk.Examples of screening methods are: ? visual inspection with acetic acid (VIA) for cervical cancer in low-resource settings; ? PAP test for cervical cancer in middle- and high-income settings;? mammography screening for breast cancer in high-income settings.Treatment Treatment is the series of interventions, including psychosocial support, surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy that is aimed at curing the disease or considerably prolonging life while improving the patient?s quality of life.Treatment of early detectable cancersSome of the most common cancer types, such as breast cancer, cervical cancer, oral cancer and colorectal cancer have higher cure rates when detected early and treated according to best practices.Treatment of other cancers with potential for cureSome cancer types, even though disseminated, such as leukemias and lymphomas in children, and testicular seminoma, have high cure rates if appropriate treatment is provided.Palliative carePalliative care is treatment to relieve, rather than cure, symptoms caused by cancer. Palliative care can help people live more comfortably; it is an urgent humanitarian need for people worldwide with cancer and other chronic fatal diseases. It is particularly needed in places with a high proportion of patients in advanced stages where there is little chance of cure.Relief from physical, psychosocial and spiritual problems can be achieved in over 90% of advanced cancer patients through palliative care. Palliative care strategiesEffective public health strategies, comprising of community- and home-based care are essential to provide pain relief and palliative care for patients and their families in low-resource settings. Improved access to oral morphine is mandatory for the treatment of moderate to severe cancer pain, suffered by over 80% of cancer patients in terminal phase.WHO responseIn 2008, WHO launched its non-communicable Diseases Action plan. WHO and the International Agency for Research on Cancer, the specialized cancer agency of WHO, collaborate with other United Nations organizations and partners in the areas of international cancer prevention and control to:? increase political commitment for cancer prevention and control; ? generate new knowledge, and disseminate existing knowledge to facilitate the delivery of evidence-based approaches to cancer control;? develop standards and tools to guide the planning and implementation of interventions for prevention, early detection, treatment and care;? facilitate broad networks of cancer control partners at global, regional and national levels;? strengthen health systems at national and local levels; ? provide technical assistance for rapid, effective transfer of best practice interventions to developing countries; and? coordinate and conduct research on the causes of human cancer, the mechanisms of carcinogenesis, and develop scientific strategies for cancer prevention and control.

My pap smear came back as having abnormal cells on my cervix and the P.a. said it looked like it was likely cancer… Ive researched it some but at 19 years old I just cant bear to read any more.. if youve had it Id just like to know what your symptoms felt like and what youd suggest.

There are no symptoms unless it is advanced.
Survival depends on the stage and the 5 year survival rate ranges from 100-5%

Colon cancer, one of the most common illnesses in the country may form from abnormal cells called polyps that get bigger and form clusters. These types of cancerous cells have the ability to grow and spread throughout the body.

Those at risk of acquiring the disease include individuals with a family history of the disease and those in the age bracket of 50 and up.  Individuals carrying the genetic make-up may opt for screening for early intervention. several risk factors also include a previous battle with cancer, a family history of the illness, poor diet, smoking and obesity.

Symptoms are often similar to those of other diseases and it can be difficult to get an accurate assessment. Medical attention should be sought if an individual experiences abnormal bleeding, weakness, pale complexion or abdominal expansion without weight gain, nausea, any change in bowel movements or weight loss. Patients are recommended to be screened regularly for the presence of cancer-causing factors.

Untreated cancerous cells can lead to the need for further surgery and intense treatments.  A cancer may become so advanced that it will not respond to treatment at all. In seeking medical attention, the patient may undergo a series of tests that can detect and diagnose colon cancer. A physician will be able to answer any questions that a patient may have regarding treatment options and the survival chances.

While certain medicines may help to prevent diseases, physical activities or exercise and a low-fat, high-fiber diet may help to reduce the risks.

The precursor to cervical cancer is HPV. Human papilloma virus or genital warts/anal warts. unfortunately not all strains of HPV actually cause warts which is also why you should have annual Pap smears. for females between 16-26, the Gardasil is a fantastic option. if you are concerned about the possibility of HPV, you should go to the doctor as soon as possible and if you are free and clear get the shot. even if you are not sexually active, you should get the shot because from what I was told you cannot get it after age 26, apparently it is not effective. Protect yourself. Go see your doctor.

Sometimes there are no symptoms. the best way for early detection is to get a PAP smear. the presence of abnormal cells would be a first indication that something is wrong although it doesn't always indicate cancer. please get a PAP smear. the results only take about a week to get and it is the best way to find out.

none until disease has spread to other areas or the cervix is very diseased and almost rotting. that's why you have to get a pap smear yearly

By admin + January 1st, 2011

The image of the lung disease is the lack of hope. Lung cancer affects millions of Americans and others around the world. Understand the symptoms, treatments, causes such as smoking, and signs will help increase awareness of the debilitating lung disease. this section is dedicated to helping promote awareness of this disease.just what is lung [...]

The image of the lung disease is the lack of hope. Lung cancer affects millions of Americans and others around the world. Understand the symptoms, treatments, causes such as smoking, and signs will help increase awareness of the debilitating lung disease. this section is dedicated to helping promote awareness of this disease.just what is lung cancer? It 'a condition in which cancer cells grow uncontrollably,, mesothelioma treatment, mesothelioma treatment, and reproduce devastating effects on the lungs.

Healthy cells are replaced by abnormal cells that, mesothelioma treatment, grow into tumors that destroy the lungs.there are tow main types of lung disease. They are non-small cell, which currently, mesothelioma treatment, represents 80% of cases diagnosed, and small cells that make, mesothelioma treatment, up the remaining 20%. Lung cancer usually begins in one lung still. if left untreated, can spread to other vital organs of the body, as well as the lymph nodes, brain, bone and liver few.

Although on behalf of more than eighty percent of patients develop lung disease from smoking, this is not the case at -inclusive. Studies have shown that many environmental factors influence the likelihood of contracting lung cancer. These factors include environmental pollution, emissions of toxic gases, and exposure to carcinogens such as asbestos and other toxic inhalants.Small cells is often caused by tobacco smoke. The first signs and symptoms of this form of lung disease may appear as a persistent cough that gradually increases over time, changes in color and quantity of sputum, excessive shortness of breath, loss of appetite and chronic fatigue.

Other symptoms can include rapid weight loss, unexplained back pain, and swelling of the, mesothelioma treatment, face, mesothelioma treatment, and neck.Like all cancers, early detection is the key to increasing survival rates. Doctors can use a series of tests, mesothelioma treatment, to detect cancer cells in the lungs. These include a physical examination along with advanced, mesothelioma treatment, image scanning of the chest and lungs.The following tests may be used to diagnose lung cancer: computed tomography (also supports 2-dimensional images of X-ray, mesothelioma treatment, of the chest), chest x-ray of pulmonary cavity,, mesothelioma treatment, magnetic resonance imaging or MRI, PET, or positron emission tomography, which uses the capacity of cellular response to sugar, and a biopsy, which involves removing, mesothelioma treatment, some tissue for examination.

Others still no microscopic tests so intrusive may include the use of a bronchoscope or the doctor can see the lungs and surrounding areas through a small hollow tube that magnifies the images, and sputum cytology – in which a sample of mucus is collected and analyzed with a very powerful microscope for abnormal cell growth and tissue.Doctors have a variety of methods to treat lung Caner. These include the use of various conventional medical practices such as surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

Once the diagnosis of confirmed cases, while only the design of your medical treatment plan that will be more effective. Everything depends on your current health status, degree of tumor progression,, mesothelioma treatment, and, mesothelioma treatment, whether the cancer has mastasized.The way, mesothelioma treatment, to protect yourself is to increase your awareness by visiting the news sites that contain images, photographs and articles on new disease. Prevention is the key, and if you are there, early diagnosis, and occupies most of the chances of survival.

You may want to consider alternative treatments and will be available on this site with promising results.

Las Cruces— the words “preventable” and “cancer” aren’t always seen in the same sentence.

We get frequent reminders of the traditional prevention methods to help counteract cancer and many other illnesses: Eat a healthy diet including lots of fruits in vegetables, exercise and avoid smoking, get regular screenings. Those screenings are important for many types of cancer, but don’t catch abnormal cells until they have already become just that: Cancer.

From 1955 to 1992, cervical cancer was one of the most common causes of cancer death for American women, according to statistics by the American Cancer Society. but since then, death rates have declined by almost 70 percent, due to increased use of the Pap test, a screening that is unique because it can detect changes in the cervix before cancer develops, thus making it the first step in halting the possible progression of abnormal cells into cervical cancer.

“This is one of the few cancers that’s preventable, because the Pap test will help you find it before it’s cancer, as opposed to mammography, which won’t find one you can treat prior to malignancy,” said Gena love, head of the Cancer Prevention and Control Section for the New Mexico Department of Health. Preventing HPV

Love said though there has been a tremendous decrease in mortality in cervical cancer cases, it is still not being caught at 100 percent. in New Mexico, approximately 80 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer each year, and about 26 women die from the disease each year, she said. only 3 percent of those cases are the invasive kind of cancer, and the rest are localized, in situ (“in place”) cancers.

Risk factors for cervical cancer include exposure to secondhand smoke and exposure to the human papilloma virus (HPV), a large group of related viruses and the most common sexually transmitted infection that can develop into cervical cancer in women. because being exposed to HPV can happen very soon after one becomes sexually active (according to the American Cancer Society, almost half of HPV infections are found in people between the ages of 15 and 25, and one-half to three-fourths of sexually active people will have the virus at some point in their lives), the HPV vaccine is recommended for young girls before they ever get exposed to that virus, love said. HPV can live inside the body for up to several years without symptoms, she said, and the body can clear the virus on its own, so some people may never even know they were exposed to the virus and may clear it without harm. but for others, it can develop into cancer.

“The body, for the most part, is able to deal with that virus, but it can progress into invasive cervical cancer,” love said. “Why some people can clear that virus without problems and others don’t is hard to pin down.”

More than 99 percent of cervical cancers are caused by HPV, and 70 percent of those are caused by HPV types 16 and 18, which can be prevented by taking the vaccines Gardasil and Cervarix.

Love suggests following the Centers for Disease Control guidelines, which recommend that girls ages 11 to 12 get vaccinated. Women from ages 13 up to 26 can also be protected by taking it. Girls as young as age 9 are able to take it, she said.

“The vaccine seems to be very promising in preventing the acquisition of that virus in young girls,” she said.

However, the vaccines don’t protect against all of the strains that can become cancerous cells.

“One of the messages we want to get out there is it only protects for certain types of HPV,” love said. “Even if you are protected against the most common types, you are not protected against all of them, so you still need to get Pap tests.” How often should women get screened?

Love said it is difficult to say how often women should get Pap tests and at what age they should begin getting tested, because test frequency is based on age, the type of test and previous results. Generally it is recommended that women start at age 21 or within three years of the first time they have sex, and every other year after that for the first 60 months. no matter what the frequency is, it’s important that women keep getting regular Pap tests and converse with their doctor about how often to do it and when to stop, she said. Unless told by their doctor that it is OK to discontinue getting tested, women should continue up until age 65 or the cervix is removed, she said. though the test may not be the most comfortable experience or something women look forward to, she said, it’s one of the most effective and low-risk.

“It is one of the most reliable and effective cancer screening tests available,” love said. “We don’t want to suggest that screening is easy – no one really likes to have it – yet compared to others, it’s relatively painless, quick, inexpensive and sensitive. if you’ve got abnormal cells, it’s very likely to find them.”

And with regular screenings, cervical cancer can be caught early, which is beneficial because the cancer has few symptoms and can be difficult to detect without a Pap test. though it is preventable, if it goes too long before it’s detected, it can be harder to treat.

“It is a very slow-growing disease from the time abnormal cells might be seen on a Pap test to cervical cancer might be a decade or more,” love said. Treatment

For localized cancers that are caught early, treatment may just be limited to the cervix, and cells are removed off of the surface, love said. if the cancer is invasive, more extensive surgery might be required, and if the disease has metastasized to other areas of the body, regional treatments like radiation and chemotherapy will be needed. the sooner the cancer is caught, the more likely it will be easy to treat. if it’s local, the average woman has an 88 percent chance of curing the cancer and surviving. if it spreads regionally, that five-year survival rate drops down to 52 percent. if the cancer becomes distantly spread, the survival rate decreases further lower to 18 percent, she said.

Love stressed that the most important prevention method is getting regular Pap tests.

“There are more women dying of other types of cancer than the 26 (women who die of cervical cancer each year in New Mexico), yet the tragedy is that those deaths could have been prevented,” she said. “A lot of people die from cancer that couldn’t be prevented but this is one that we could have saved those lives. This is one cancer that women don’t have to die from.” Get screened

The Department of Health has breast and cervical cancer early detection programs, and offers both free Pap tests and breast screenings to women who meet specific criteria. To receive free testing, women must be 30 or older, uninsured or underinsured, and at or below the federal poverty line. For more information, visit the New Mexico Department of Health Cancer Prevention and Control website, cancernm.org/bcc, or call the toll-free number: (877) 852-2585. Did you know…

In the U.S.:

About 12, 200 new cases of invasive cervical cancer will be diagnosed, and about

4, 210 women will die from cervical cancer in 2010.

In New Mexico:

Approximately 80 women are diagnosed with invasive cervical cancer each year

Approximately 26 women die from the disease each year

Most cancers are localized, in situ, non-invasive tumors that have not penetrated other tissues. Three percent of all new cancer cases in the state are the invasive form of cervical cancer.

Almost two-thirds of the women diagnosed are under the age of 55, but mortality is more likely to occur in older women: two-thirds of the deaths from cervical cancer are of women age 55 and older. Freelance writer Sara Cobble can be reached at .