Cervical Cancer Survival Rates
Cervical Cancer Survival Rates
Cervical cancer begins when cells in the cervix grow out of control. This page explains how many people are diagnosed with cervical cancer each year and what survival statistics look like.
For many people, one of the first questions after a cervical cancer diagnosis is, what is my prognosis? or, what are my chances of survival? It is important to remember that every person is different, and researchers are always studying new treatments. Statistics describe groups of people. They cannot predict what will happen for any one individual.
It is also important to remember that these statistics tell us about groups of people, not individuals. Statistics can be hard to understand. Always talk to your doctor about your specific diagnosis and what these statistics mean for you.
Some people may choose not to read about statistics after a diagnosis. If you would prefer to skip this section, consider reading another part of this guide.
How common is cervical cancer?
Cervical cancer was once one of the most common causes of cancer death in women in the United States. Because of widespread cervical cancer screening programs, the rates of cervical cancer have dropped dramatically over the past several decades.
Today, about 13,000 new cases of cervical cancer are diagnosed in the United States each year, and about 4,000 people die from it. Worldwide, cervical cancer remains a much more serious problem, particularly in countries where screening and vaccination are less available. It is the fourth most common cancer in women globally.
Cervical cancer is most often diagnosed in people between the ages of 35 and 44. The average age at diagnosis is 50. It is rare in people under 20.
What is the survival rate for cervical cancer?
Researchers use a statistic called the relative survival rate to understand how long most people live after a specific cancer diagnosis. This number compares people with the disease to people of the same age and sex who do not have it.
As an example: imagine two groups of 100 people. Group A does not have cancer. Group B does. After 5 years, 90 people in Group A are still alive. In Group B, 65 people are still alive. The 5-year relative survival rate would be about 72% — because 65 is 72% of 90.
The overall 5-year relative survival rate for cervical cancer in the United States is about 66 percent. However, survival rates vary significantly depending on how far the cancer has spread when it is found:
Localized cervical cancer, meaning cancer that is confined to the cervix, has a 5-year relative survival rate of about 92 percent.
Regional cervical cancer, meaning cancer that has spread to nearby lymph nodes or other nearby organs, has a 5-year relative survival rate of about 60 percent.
Distant cervical cancer, meaning cancer that has spread to faraway parts of the body such as the lungs or bones, has a 5-year relative survival rate of about 19 percent.
These numbers come from data collected over several years and may not reflect the most current treatments. Newer treatments, including immunotherapy, continue to improve outcomes for people with advanced cervical cancer. Always talk to your doctor about what these statistics mean for your specific situation.
Is cervical cancer curable?
When cervical cancer is found early, it is highly curable. The large majority of people diagnosed with early-stage cervical cancer can be cured with treatment. Even people with more advanced cervical cancer can often achieve remission with treatment, and newer treatments are helping more people live longer. Researchers continue to develop new therapies that are improving survival and quality of life for people with cervical cancer at all stages.
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