MADISON, Wis. -- January is Cervical Cancer Awareness Month and according to the American Cancer Society, 11,070 cases of invasive cervical cancer were diagnosed in U.S. women in 2008 and 3,870 of them died.

But local health experts said that cervical cancer is preventable, and highly treatable if detected early with a Pap screening test.

A Pap test detects changes in the cervix. Those changes can be a result of the Human Papiloma Virus -- a sexually transmitted disease that can lead to cervical cancer, officials said.

HPV is now preventable with the vaccine Gardasil. Experts recommend Pap tests for all women who are sexually active or once a woman turns 18 as part of an annual health routine.

"The majority of women that we see here in Madison who are diagnosed with invasive cervical cancer, in general, have not had a pelvic exam or pap smear for 10-15 years prior to their diagnosis," said Dr. Joseph Connor, with the University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center.

In Wisconsin, the state Department of Health Services offers free screening tests to women with little or no insurance ages 45 to 64 through the Wisconsin Well Woman Program, WISC-TV reported.