Cervical cancer is a slow-developing disease that originates from abnormal cell changes in the cervix. Although these changes do not cause any symptoms, they can be detected through cervical screening tests. Once identified, treatment can be provided to prevent the development of cancer.
The cervix, also known as the neck of the womb, is the lower part of the uterus that connects to the top of the vagina. It is present in women, transgender (trans) men, and individuals assigned female at birth.
The primary risk factor for cervical cancer is the human papilloma virus (HPV), which is an infection that comes in over 100 different types. Certain strains of HPV are capable of affecting the cervix and leading to abnormal cell changes that may develop into cervical cancer.
There are two primary types of cervical cancer: squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma. Squamous cell carcinoma is the more common type and originates from the cells that cover the cervix’s outside region, close to the top of the vagina. Adenocarcinoma originates from a different type of cell that is found in the cervical canal, known as the endocervix. Other, less common types of cervical cancer include adenosquamous carcinoma, clear cell carcinoma, neuroendocrine carcinoma, small cell carcinoma of the cervix, lymphoma, and sarcoma. The treatment for these types of cervical cancer may vary from the standard treatment for the more common types.