FACTS ABOUT SMOKING AND CERVICAL CANCER

Are you aware of the specific dangers and effects smoking has on patients with cervical cancer?

• Cervical Cancer is a well-established smoking-related illness but many at-risk women are unaware of this link
• Cervical Cancer claims 5,000 lives annually in the United States.
• Strong epidemiological evidence points to the relationship between smoking and cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN or dysplasia) the precursor to cervical cancer.
• Cigarette smoking is a risk factor for cervical cancer that, independent of human papilloma virus (HPV) influences treatment outcomes of CIN
• The incidence of CIN and cervical cancer is elevated in smokers.
• Continued smoking is associated with an increased likelihood of progression of CIN to carcinoma. This translates into a 4 to 5 fold greater risk of cervical cancer among female smokers.
• Quitting or reducing smoking favorably affects the prognosis of CIN and hence the risk of invasive cervical cancer.
• Among patients with untreated CIN, 82% of women who quit smoking showed a reduction in lesion size of at least 20%.
• Current smokers have a threefold increased risk of treatment failure of CIN compared with nonsmokers.
• Various surveys and studies conclude current smokers perceive themselves to be at higher risk for developing cervical cancer..