What Do You Know About Cervical Cancer?

The cervix forms a canal at the lower part of the uterus. The cervix connects the uterus to the vagina, or birth canal, which leads to the outside of the body.

Most cervical cancers start in the cells of the external lining of the cervix. Without treatment, this cancer can reach the small blood vessels and lymph vessels in the cervix. From there, it can spread to the rest of the body.

All of these put women at greater risk of developing cervical cancer. Women who smoke are about twice as likely as nonsmokers to get cervical cancer. HPV is a family of more than 150 viruses that commonly cause warts. It's also the main cause of cervical cancer. Women with HPV or whose partners have HPV have a higher risk for cervical cancer. Sexual history is another important risk factor for cervical cancer. Anyone with many sexual partners is more at risk for picking up a sexually transmitted virus like HPV. Women are also at greater risk for cervical cancer if their male partners have had many sexual partners. The virus that causes AIDS damages the body's immune system and puts women more at risk for HPV infections. All of these can increase the risk for cervical cancer.

Most cervical pre-cancers and cancers develop slowly over time. That's why it's important to have regular tests for cervical cancer. If all women had regular pelvic exams and primary HPV tests or HPV and/or Pap tests, cervical pre-cancers could be treated and most invasive cervical cancers could be prevented. One good way to prevent HPV infection is to get vaccinated against the virus. The vaccine is used to prevent, not treat, an HPV infection, the ACS says. To be most effective, the HPV vaccine should be given before a person begins having sex.

In most cases, by the time symptoms are noticed, the cancer has already grown and spread into nearby tissues. Abnormal vaginal discharge or bleeding, bleeding after menopause, pelvic pain, or pain during sex may be signs of cervical cancer.

The primary HPV test checks for infection with the high-risk types of HPV that are linked to cervical cancer. This test can be used alone, or HPV testing can be done along with a Pap test. The tests take only a few minutes. Your healthcare provider will put a tool called a speculum into your vagina. Some people may be able to collect their own sample. A brush or swab is used to take a few cells from the cervix. In most cases, the test is painless, although some feel discomfort. The cells are then tested in a lab to check for infection and see if they are healthy. A pelvic exam is usually done at the same time as the HPV and Pap tests. In a pelvic exam, a healthcare provider checks the uterus and ovaries, too.

The ACS recommends that all women start cervical cancer screening at age 25. Once a woman starts screening, she should continue to get regular screening. Women ages 25 to 65 should have a primary HPV test every 5 years. If this isn't available, a combined HPV and Pap test can be done every 5 years, or a Pap test can be done alone every 3 years. Recommendations from other expert organizations may vary. Talk with your doctor about the screening schedule that is right for you.

Early detection increases a woman's survival rate. When found and treated early (when it's small and hasn't spread) more than 9 out of 10 women will be alive 5 years after the cervical cancer was first found. Cervical cancer, or cell changes that will become cervical cancer over time, can often be found when a woman regularly gets cervical cancer screening. In fact, cervical cancer is most common in women who don't have regular screening tests. Regular screening and then removing or killing any abnormal cells that are found can prevent cervical cancer from developing.