Cervix cancer death rates and mass cytologic screening.

Abstract

Death rates for cervix cancer and total uterine cancer among women 20 years old and older have decreased significantly in Jefferson County, Ky., from 1953-1967. Death rates have not changed significantly in Kentucky outside of Jefferson County during this time period. The average age at time of death from cervix cancer is 7.6 years greater for Jefferson County residents during the last 3 years of the study compared to the first 3 years. The only known factor which could account for these observations is a mass cytologic screening program for cervix cancer in Jefferson County; there was no such mass screening effort in the rest of the state.