New research highlights how much more vulnerable Black women are to developing cervical cancer and facing higher mortality rates.

Nearly 13,400 new cases of invasive cervical cancer will be diagnosed this year and about 4,300 women will die from the disease, the American Cancer Society predicted.

Cervical cancer is a slow-growing cancer that occurs in the cervix, the lower part of the uterus that connects to the vagina. This area, which has a donut-shaped structure, plays a crucial role in reproductive health.

Abnormal intermenstrual bleeding, such as spotting or unexpected bleeding between cycles, is a crucial red flag that may indicate cervical cancer. Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Reproductive and Oncofertility specialist Associate Professor Dr Mohd Faisal Ahmad said many women mistakenly dismiss the early signs of cervical cancer as routine symptoms,