Cayman Islands: cervical cancer increases

A recent study of the incidence of cervical cancer in the Cayman Islands found that there had been a dramatic increase in the rate from 19.2/100,000 women during the first year of the 6 years studied to 62.6/100,000 women during the last year of the study. Well over 50% of the cases (58.6%) were women under the age of 40 years. 75% of the cases (75.9%) did not have a Pap smear within 5 years of the diagnosis. The mean annual age-adjusted incidence of cervical cancer during the study period was 42.7/100,000 women over 20 years of age, which is the highest reported incidence in the Caribbean. Further details of the study can be obtained from Dr. P. Maoris, George Twon Hospital, PO Box 915, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands; phone: 0135 949 0190; e-mail: maourisp@cand.ky