According to the American Cancer Society, approximately 13,820 new cases of invasive cervical cancer will be diagnosed, and 4,360 women will die from cervical cancer. However, cervical cancer is preventable with regular screening tests and the HPV vaccine. It’s important to note that medical advances have allowed progress in diagnosing and treating cervical cancer. While it used to be one of the most common causes of cancer death for American women, the incidence of death has significantly declined.
What to Know About the HPV Vaccine
HPV vaccination is the best way to prevent cervical cancer and is recommended for all youth starting as early as age 9, or for teens and adults up to age 45 who didn’t start or finish the series. In Nevada, only 50.1% of teens ages 13-17 have been vaccinated for HPV.
There are 13 types of HPV, and the vaccine Gardasil 9 protects against 9 of those HPV strains, greatly reducing the incidence of cervical cancer among vaccinated individuals.
What to Know About Cervical Cancer Screenings
The CDC says the most important thing you can do to help prevent cervical cancer is to have regular screening tests starting at age 21. And there are two common tests that can detect early stages of cervical cancer (or precancer) and improve health outcomes.
The pap test (or pap smear). This screening looks for precancers. Women should begin getting pap smears when they’re 21.
The human papillomavirus (HPV) test looks for the virus that can cause these cell changes.
Cervical Cancer Screening Schedule
The American Cancer Society offers the following guidelines for screenings:
All women should begin cervical cancer screening at 21. Women between 21 and 29 should have a pap test every three years.
Beginning at 30, the preferred way to screen is with a pap test combined with an HPV test every five years. This is called co-testing and should continue until age 65. A pap test (or pap smear) is performed during a regular screening appointment to look for precancers, cell changes on the cervix that might become cervical cancer if they are not evaluated or appropriately treated. Typically outpatient procedures can reduce the risk of long-term health impacts that prevent pre-cancerous cells from becoming cancer cells.
Women over 65 who have had regular screenings in the previous ten years should stop cervical cancer screening as long as they haven’t had any severe precancers found in the last 20 years.
How to Get Screened
Request an appointment with your primary care physician or OBGYN to schedule a screening.
Women's Health Services
Our dedicated team understands your unique health needs and is here to support you every step of the way.
What Is Oncology Wellness? A New Kind of Cancer Care at Renown
At Renown Health, we believe cancer care is about more than just treatment—it’s about healing the whole person. That’s why we created something special: a program specifically designed for cancer wellness, built right into our new Conrad Breast Center.
Tiffany Banks is one of the newest members of the Renown Health Foundation Board of Directors. She’s part of a dedicated group of 28 volunteers who lead fundraising for Renown Health, northern Nevada’s only not-for-profit academic health system.
Tiffany brings bold vision and relentless drive to make real change. She’s a founding member of Mamas for a Cause, a Reno nonprofit that raised $50,000 to support breast care services at the Conrad Breast Center at Renown South Meadows, a cause that’s deeply personal to her. She’s also an attorney and the CEO of Nevada REALTORS®, where she has shaped policies and amplified the voice of real estate professionals across the state.
Now she’s setting her sights on the title of Mrs. Nevada America, an honor celebrating women defined by service, ambition and heart.
Get to know Tiffany in her own words. Why she gives back, what motivates her to lead, and how she’s working to create lasting change.
Renown Health is proud to unveil a special new space just for breast health—created with your comfort and care at the center. So, what makes this place so special? Let's break it down.
