Geographic & age variations in invasive cervical cancer in Kentucky, 1995-1999

The incidence rate of invasive cervical cancer in Kentucky is among the highest in the United States. Data from the Kentucky Cancer Registry and the National Cancer Institute (NCI) show that in 1998, Kentucky's invasive cervical cancer incidence rate was 49% higher than the national rate (11.2 per 100,000 women versus 7.5 per 100,000 women). As with most diseases, the incidence of invasive cervical cancer varies by both time and geographic location. As noted in a previous article by Wyatt et al, this variation is tied to the prevalence of established risk factors for cervical cancer over time and place. To document Kentucky's invasive cervical cancer incidence patterns, incident cases over a five-year period (1995-1999) were analyzed by place (Area Development District, ADD) and age.