Cervical Cancer: American Indian and Alaskan Native Women

Stages of Cervical Cancer (Click to enlarge)

© Special to Tribal Connections

Cancer: a serious problem amongst any population, causing pain, turmoil, heartache, and sometimes death. Although the cervix is not the leading cancer site for cancer death among American Indians and Alaska Natives, cervical cancer still affects the populations adversely, with rates recently increasing. In fact, cervical cancer poses such a threat to women that Indian Health Services aimed to reduce cervical cancer mortality rates 76% from 1972/74 - 2000/02. Increased screening through pap smears, increased collaborations between clinics and Native communities, and increased accuracy in reporting are all contributing factors to this goal.

According to the Intercultural Cancer Council, "Cancer rates which were previously reported to be lower in American Indian and Alaska Natives have been shown to be increasing in the past twenty years." In fact, cervical cancer is the second leading cause of death for American Indian women. While the fatal statistics have decreased for other races/ethnicities, AI/AN females are a demographic that is still at high risk for cervical cancer.

Cervical cancer occurs when certain body cells don't function right, divide uncontrollably, and produce too much tissue, resulting in a tumor which invades healthy, normal functioning cells. The US Department of Health and Human Services assert that, in many cases, cervical cancer develops when two or more of the following risk factors act together: smoking, instances of many sexual partners and/or sexual activity at an early age, sexually transmitted diseases, and weakened immune systems.

Help on the horizon

Yet there is positive news regarding cervical cancer. The risk of cervical cancer deaths has declined 74% between 1955 and 1992 mainly due to the pap test, an exam that is able to detect abnormal cervical cells. Studies have proven that when cervical cancer is treated early, it can be cured. It is obvious then that women who have not had Pap Tests are more at risk for cervical cancer. This is a very important observation for the American Indian and Alaska Native women.

What does all of this information mean for specific populations of indigenous women? AI/AN women have the highest mortality rate of all ethnic groups for all cancers combined, primarily due to risk factors of tobacco and alcohol use, poor diet, a sedentary lifestyle, obesity, and limited access to health care. As previously stated, all of these factors can contribute to cervical cancer. As many of the determing factors are lifestyle choices, it is important to provide education about the risk factors and prevention of cervical cancer. However, AI/AN's limited access to health care is a society issue.

According to the Intercultural Cancer Council, the Indian Health Service (IHS) provides health care to all American Indians and Alaska Natives; however, IHS is approximately 40% under funded by Congress for the needed health care. Such funding gaps result in a lack of access to health care such as early detection screenings about cervical cancer.