A new study from Johns Hopkins shows that previous U.S. death rates for women with cervical cancer were underestimated. 

Dr. John Farley with the University of Arizona Cancer Center said the former data didn’t account for women who’d had hysterectomies. And African American women face a higher risk than Caucasian women.

"There was almost a 125 percent increase in mortality rate for blacks and an 83 percent increase for whites when they made the correction with hysterectomy for the same age," Farley said. "And so it’s a significant correction in these mortality rates."

Farley said African American women typically have less access to care and preventative screenings. They also are prone to more aggressive types of cervical cancer.

Farley encourages young women and girls to get vaccinated for HPV and keep up with their regular gynecological exams.

EDITOR'S NOTE: This story has been updated to correct the spelling of Johns Hopkins.