Cervical cancer rates have dropped since the 1970s, yet millennial women ages 30 to 44 are seeing a rise in diagnoses, with doctors blaming skipped screenings.
Research shows that skipped screenings rose from 14% in 2005 to 23% in 2019, largely because many women are unaware of the need for regular testing, doctors say.
Millennials are also less likely to have received the HPV vaccine, since most were already past the recommended age or hesitant when it was first approved in 2006, medical experts say.
“Jersey Shore” star Nicole “Snookie” Polizzi announced Feb. 20 that she was diagnosed with stage 1 cervical cancer at age 38, according to multiple news outlets. She said a routine Pap smear caught it early.
The reality TV star urged her social media followers to get screened, crediting early detection with giving her a higher chance of full recovery. She also plans on getting a hysterectomy.
Cervical cancer typically has no symptoms in its early stages, so experts urge a traditional Pap smear, HPV test, or a newer FDA-approved at-home self-swab kit as the best tool for early prevention.
• Juliet La Sala can be reached at jlasala@washingtontimes.com.
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