The cervix is the lower portion of the uterus that connects the uterus to the vagina. The opening of the cervix remains small except during labor when it expands to allow the baby to pass from the uterus to the vagina. Cervical cancer occurs when cells in the cervix grow erratically and multiply out of control. As with other types of cancer, it often takes years for cervical cancer to develop. First, normal cervical cells change into pre-cancerous cells. Pre-cancerous abnormalities progress without symptoms and if left untreated, they eventually progress into cancer. When cervical abnormalities are detected and treated in pre-cancerous stages, cervical cancer is preventable.
Both pre-cancerous and cancer cells in the cervix can be detected with a Pap smear (also called Pap test). A Pap smear is a screening exam used to examine cells from the cervix and the vagina. If abnormal cells are found, they are classified according to their degree of abnormality.
Approximately 50 million Pap smears are performed each year in the United States. The increased use of Pap smear is largely responsible for a significant reduction in the number of deaths from cervical cancer over the years (a decrease of 74% from 1955 to 1992).
When detected early, the five-year survival rate for cervical cancer is approximately 92%. If cervical cancer is detected before it has invaded any surrounding tissues, the five-year survival rate is nearly 100%. Therefore, it is very important that all women begin receiving yearly Pap smears and pelvic examinations at age 21. Some physicians will not perform a Pap smear each year if a woman has had three negative (normal) Pap smears in the course of three years. However, a yearly pelvic exam should be continued even if Pap smears are not given each year.
Even with the increased use of the Pap smear, not all women receive yearly Pap smears. It is estimated that between 60% and 80% of American women who are newly diagnosed with cervical cancer have not had a Pap smear within the last five years, if ever. According to recent studies, elderly, African-American, and low-income women are the least likely to have annual Pap smears.
The American Cancer Society estimated that there are 11,000 new cases of invasive cervical cancer diagnosed in the United States each year and approximately 4,000 American women die from the disease each year. Researchers estimate that non-invasive cervical cancer is nearly four times as likely as invasive cervical cancer. The International Agency for Research on Cancer estimates that nearly 380,000 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer worldwide each year. The number of cases and number of deaths from cervical cancer are higher in less developed countries where routine screening is not widespread.
| Estimated Cervical Cancer Cases/Deaths Worldwide | ||
| Region | New Cases (2000) | Deaths (2000) |
| Eastern Africa Middle Africa Northern Africa Southern Africa Western Africa Caribbean Central America South America Northern America Eastern Asia South-Eastern Asia South Central Asia Western Asia Eastern Europe Northern Europe Southern Europe Western Europe Australia/New Zealand Melanesia Micronesia Polynesia Worldwide More Developed Countries Less Developed Countries |
30,206 6,947 10,479 5,541 13,903 6,670 21,596 49,025 14,845 51,266 39,648 151,297 3,458 35,482 6,049 10,116 13,282 1,077 983 25 70 470,606 91,451 379,153 |
15,837 3,799 5,524 2,906 7,154 3,143 8,690 18,737 7,070 25,639 20,462 83,678 1,765 15,180 3,162 4,011 6,207 432 510 12 11 233,372 39,350 194,025 |
Source: J. Ferlay, F. Bray, P. Pisani and D.M. Parkin. GLOBOCAN 2000: Cancer Incidence, Mortality and Prevalence Worldwide, Version 1.0. IARC CancerBase No. 5. Lyon, IARCPress, 2001.
Risk factors for cervical cancer include age (the highest risk occurs between late teens and mid-thirties), early age at first sexual intercourse, multiple sexual partners, certain strains of the human papillomavirus (HPV, a sexually transmitted disease), smoking, and daughters of women who took DES (a hormonal drug prescribed between 1940 and 1971 to help prevent miscarriages). Because there are often no symptoms associated with early stages of cervical cancer, it is important that women receive annual Pap smears to screen for the disease. Symptoms that may be associated with cervical cancer include unusual vaginal discharge, vaginal bleeding, or bleeding or pain during sexual intercourse. In June 2006, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved a vaccine aimed at preventing cervical cancer and vulvar and vaginal pre-cancers. The vaccine, called Gardasil, had been shown to be effective at blocking cervical cancers caused by certain strains of HPV. To learn more about this vaccine, please visit FDA Advisory Panel Backs Cervical Cancer Vaccine
If Pap smear results suggest cervical cancer, a number of additional tests may be performed for confirmation, including colposcopy, cervical biopsy, or cone biopsy. Further imaging tests, such as CT scan or MRI may be performed if the cancer is suspected to have spread past the cervix to other areas of the body.
Treatment for cervical cancer depends on the stage of the cancer and other prognostic factors. The main types of treatment for cervical cancer include surgery (laser surgery, cone biopsy, hysterectomy) radiation therapy, and/or chemotherapy. The earlier cervical cancer is detected, the greater the chances for successful treatment and survival.
- Risk Factors and Symptoms
- Pap Smear
- FDA Advisory Panel Backs Cervical Cancer Vaccine
- Diagnosis
- Stages of Cervical Cancer
- Treatment
- Additional Resources and References
Updated: May 2010
