What Are the Symptoms of Cervical Cancer?

The cervix is the lower part of the uterus (womb), where a baby grows during pregnancy. Cervical cancer is caused by a virus called HPV. The virus spreads through sexual contact, and most women's bodies can fight off an HPV infection. Sometimes, however, the virus can lead to cancer. Cervical cancer may not cause any symptoms at first; later, you may have pelvic pain or bleeding from the vagina. It usually takes several years for normal cells in the cervix to turn into cancer cells. Your health care provider can find abnormal cells by doing a Pap test to examine cells from the cervix. You can also have an HPV test. If your results are abnormal, you may need a biopsy or other tests. By having regular screenings, you can find and treat any problems before they turn into cancer. Treatment may include surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy or a combination of these. The choice of treatment depends on the size of the tumor, whether the cancer has spread and whether you want to become pregnant.

What Is Cervical Cancer?

Cervical cancer develops when cells change in the cervix, which connects the uterus and the vagina. This cancer can affect the deeper tissues of the cervix and can spread (metastasize) to other parts of the body, most often the lungs, liver, bladder, vagina and rectum. Most cases of cervical cancer are caused by human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, which can be prevented with a vaccine.

Cervical cancer grows slowly, so there is usually time to find and treat it before it causes serious problems. Thanks to improved screening through Pap tests, it kills fewer people with female anatomy every year. People with female anatomy between the ages of 35 and 44 are the most likely to develop it. More than 20% of new cases occur in women over the age of 65, especially those who have not had regular screening.

Cervical cancer grows slowly, so there is usually time to find and treat it before it causes serious problems.

What Are the Types of Cervical Cancer?

Cervical cancer can occur in more than one form, including the following:

• Mixed carcinoma. This has features of the other two types.
• Squamous cell carcinoma. This forms in the lining of your cervix. It is found in up to 90% of cases.
• Adenocarcinoma. This forms in mucus-producing cells.

What Causes Cervical Cancer?

Cervical cancer begins with unusual changes in your tissues. Most cases are linked to HPV infection. Different types of HPV can cause skin warts, genital warts and other skin conditions. Others are linked to cancers involving the vulva, vagina, penis, anus, tongue and tonsils.

Most sexually active people become infected with HPV at some point. Most of the time, the infection clears up on its own. However, if the infection does not go away, it can lead to cervical cancer.

Your risk of developing cervical cancer may be higher in the following situations:

• Having multiple sexual partners, which increases your exposure to HPV
• Using birth control pills, especially for more than 5 years
• Smoking
• Having a weakened immune system, as your body is less able to fight infections.
• Having a sexually transmitted disease.
• Having had three or more pregnancies
• Obesity, which can make cervical cancer more difficult to diagnose.