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Knowledge is power. And this January during Cervical Health Awareness Month, your knowledge of cervical cancer facts and figures could change the world for you or for a loved one. When you know the latest cervical cancer statistics and survival rates, you have the power you need to make a difference. Teal power.

Cervical Cancer Risks

Cervical cancer affects the cervix, the organ that connects the vagina with the uterus. In its early stages, it usually doesn’t have symptoms – but a doctor can use a Pap test to spot it in the pre-cancer stage. This is good news – if you have regular Pap smears, you can catch, treat and prevent cervical cancer before it develops into a serious condition. Find a Pap smear clinic near you.

One of the types of cancer in women, cervical cancer is usually caused by the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) infection. Most people are exposed to HPVat some time during their life – it’s usually transmitted via skin-to-skin contact during sex.

Here are some other risk factors that may raise your risk of cervical cancer diagnosis:

• A large number of sexual partners.
• Giving birth to three or more children.
• Using birth control for over five years.
• Having an immune system disease (like HIV, the AIDS virus) that makes it difficult for your body to fight infection.
• Smoking. Tobacco can also raise your risk of many types of cancer, so it’s a smart idea to quit anyway. (Read more here.)

Cervical Cancer Statistics

The good news: Cervical cancer survival rates are increasing!As more and more women go in for Pap tests, cervical cancer diagnoses and deaths continue to decline. Cervical cancer is no longer the top cause of female death in the U.S. And that’s cause to celebrate!

However, we still have work to do. According to 2013 cervical cancer statistics and estimates from the National Cancer Institute, more than 12,000 women in the U.S. were diagnosed with cervical cancer, and over 4,000 women died.

That’s why we have to spread the word. Get regular testing. Make sure your family members get tested. No one wants to be a statistic.

Cervical Cancer Survival Rates

If you are diagnosed with cervical cancer, your chances for survival are fairly high. The current one-year survival rate for cervical cancer patients is 87%. (That is, 87% of cervical cancer patients survive past the one-year mark from diagnosis.)

The five-year survival rate is 68%. If the cancer is detected and treated at an early stage, the five-year survival rate jumps to 91%. Again, Pap smears can save your life.

See? The more you know, the more power you have.

For more information about Cervical Health Awareness Month and cancer fighting practices, read these cervical cancer prevention tips.

Talk to us in the comments! How are you tapping into Teal Power to create a difference this January?