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. 2021 Jun;10(12):4127-4137.
doi: 10.1002/cam4.3951. Epub 2021 May 21.

A population study of screening history and diagnostic outcomes of women with invasive cervical cancer

Vicki B Benard  1 , J Elizabeth Jackson  2 , April Greek  2 , Virginia Senkomago  1 , Warner K Huh  3 , Cheryll C Thomas  1 , Lisa C Richardson  1
Affiliations

A population study of screening history and diagnostic outcomes of women with invasive cervical cancer

Vicki B Benard et al. Cancer Med. 2021 Jun.

Abstract

Background: Despite advances to prevent and detect cervical cancer, national targets for screening have not been met in the United States. Previous studies suggested that approximately half of women who developed cervical cancer were not adequately screened. This study aimed to provide an updated examination of women's screening and diagnostic practices five years prior to an invasive cervical cancer diagnosis.

Methods: The study included women age 21 years and older diagnosed with invasive cervical cancer in 2013-2016 from three population-based state cancer registries in the United States. Medical records abstraction identified screening history and diagnostic follow-up. A mailed survey provided sociodemographic data. Screening was a Pap or human papillomavirus (HPV) test between 6 months and 5 years before diagnosis. Adequate follow-up was defined per management guidelines.

Results: Of the 376 women, 60% (n = 228) had not been screened. Among women who received an abnormal screening result (n = 122), 67% (n = 82) had adequate follow-up. Predictors of: (a) being screened were younger age, having a higher income, and having insurance; (b) adequate follow-up were having a higher income, and (c) stage 1 cervical cancer were being screened and younger age.

Conclusion: Unlike other cancer patterns of care studies, this study uses data obtained from medical records supplemented with self-report information to understand a woman's path to diagnosis, her follow-up care, and the stage of her cervical cancer diagnosis. This study provides findings that could be used to reach more unscreened or under screened women and to continue lowering cervical cancer incidence in the United States.

Keywords: cancer registries; cervical cancer screening; cervical cancer survivors.

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Conflict of interest statement

The findings and conclusions of this manuscript are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Study participants in the Case Investigation of Cervical Cancer (CICC) Study by screening and follow‐up
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Comment in

References

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