According to the World Health Organization, cervical cancer is the fourth most common type of cancer for women worldwide, but because it tends to develop slowly over time, it also is one of the most preventable types of cancer. Most cervical cancers can be detected in their precancerous stage during a Pap test and are successfully treated before developing further. The good news is that deaths from cervical cancer continue to decline by approximately 2% a year, according to the National Cervical Cancer Coalition. This decline is primarily due to the widespread use of the Pap test to detect cervical abnormalities and allow for early treatment.