Cervical Cancer

Cervix

The cervix is the lower portion or neck of the uterus, the hollow, pear-shaped organ where a baby develops. The cervix connects the uterus to the vagina (birth canal).

Incidence

The American Cancer Society estimates that over 11,000 new cases of cervical cancer will be diagnosed in 2008. Cervical cancer increases with age in both Caucasian and African-American women; this increase is more pronounced in African-American women.

Cervical cancer occurs more often in women who have a history of multiple sexual partners, those who engaged in intercourse before the age of 18 and those who have a history of genital warts caused by certain forms of the human papilloma virus (HPV). HPVs are a group of more than 100 types of viruses. Chronic HPV infection is the strongest risk factor for developing cervical cancer. Women who have suffered from a chlamydia infection are also at an increased risk for cervical cancer.

Signs & Symptoms

Early-stage cervical cancer does not have symptoms. When symptoms do develop, they may include painful intercourse, bleeding after intercourse, irregular bleeding between periods, heavy menstrual flow and abnormal vaginal discharge.

Screening & Diagnosis

An annual Pap smear is the screening test for cancer of the cervix. If the Pap smear detects abnormal cells, a biopsy of the cervix via colposcopy with the use of a colposcope (a magnifying glass) to examine the walls of the vagina and cervix will be needed to determine if cancer is present.

Vaccination

In 2006, the US Food and Drug Administration estimated that over 470,000 new cases and 230,000 deaths would result worldwide from cervical cancer. The National Cancer Institute began researching the causes for cervical cancer two decades ago. Scientists have found that exposure to the human papillomavirus (HPV) has significant health implications, particularly for women, as HPV can trigger cancer of the cervix.

Recently the FDA approved Gardasil as a vaccine to prevent four types of HPV variants (6, 11, 16 and 18). This vaccine is given through a series of three injections over a six-month period and is recommended for females nine to 26 years of age. The FDA found that Gardasil prevented nearly 100 percent of the precancerous cervical cell changes caused by the types of HPV targeted by the vaccine for up to four years after vaccination.

The vaccine is proven to be effective only if given before infection with HPV, although it should still be considered for women who may have been infected with one type of HPV in the past since Gardasil protects against genital warts and cervical dysplasia in addition to preventing cervical cancer. As this vaccine is only known to protect against four subtypes of HPV, an annual Pap test is still recommended to detect cervical cancers and precancerous lesions caused by other HPV variants or other causes.

Please see our Tip Sheet "What You Need to Know About Cervical Cancer" for more.

Treatment

Early-stage cervical cancer is treated by removing cancer cells. In very early stages, the biopsy process itself may actually remove the cancer. Other treatments include freezing the tissue (cryosurgery) or laser therapy. For women with advanced cases, surgery is the main option, followed by chemotherapy (with a drug called cisplatin) and radiation. 

Cervical Cancer Tipsheet