At a glance
CDC is supporting the Cancer Moonshot by finding ways to end cervical cancer faster.
Overview
On June 29, 2016, Vice President Joe Biden convened a National Cancer Moonshot Summit as part of a day of action that included more than 270 events across the United States. As CDC's principal deputy to the Cancer Moonshot Task Force, Dr. Lisa Richardson, Director of CDC's Division of Cancer Prevention and Control, gave introductory remarks to a gathering of about 200 people at Northside Hospital in Atlanta. In conjunction with the summit, the vice president announced new public- and private-sector actions to drive progress toward ending cancer.
On February 2, 2022, President Biden reignited the Cancer Moonshot. Its goals are to cut the cancer death rate in half over the next 25 years and to help people with cancer and their families. The announcement includes "a call to action on cancer screening to jumpstart progress on screenings that were missed as a result of the pandemic."
Ending cervical cancer
For more than 30 years, CDC has led national public health efforts to prevent cancer and find cancer early, when treatment is more likely to work. CDC is supporting the Cancer Moonshot by finding ways to end cervical cancer faster.
Most cases of cervical cancer can be prevented. Screening tests can help prevent cervical cancer by finding and treating it early or by finding and removing precancers. The human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine protects against the types of HPV that cause most cervical and other cancers.
CDC follows the US Preventive Services Task Force's recommendations for cervical cancer screening. CDC research found that 60% of women who were diagnosed with cervical cancer had not been screened for it as recommended. The top reasons for not being screened are women don't think they will get cervical cancer or need to be screened, they don't have health insurance, and they don't have a regular health care provider.
CDC's National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program provides breast and cervical cancer screenings and diagnostic services to women who have low incomes and are uninsured or underinsured. By 2035, CDC has set a goal to screen more women who have never been screened or are overdue for screening.
CDC's Inside Knowledge campaign addresses myths, stigma, and other barriers that prevent women from seeking cervical cancer screening, as well as care for other gynecologic cancers.
Addressing missed and delayed screening due to the COVID-19 pandemic
At the beginning of the pandemic, screening for breast, colorectal, and cervical cancers dropped more than 80%. Screening numbers have recovered, but many people still have not returned for care. Because of these missed screenings, many cancers may be found at a later stage, when they are harder to treat. In addition to poor health outcomes, screening delays may increase cancer disparities for groups that already experience health inequities.
CDC has developed public health messages urging people to resume getting health care, including any cancer screenings they missed due to the pandemic.
Using United States Cancer Statistics to measure progress
The United States Cancer Statistics (USCS) are the official federal cancer statistics. They are released annually by CDC's National Program of Cancer Registries. USCS data identify areas with high incidence of cervical cancer and late-stage disease. Programs can prioritize women in these areas for screening. The U.S. Cancer Statistics Data Visualizations tool shows national progress on reducing the rate of cancer deaths overall.