The cervix is the narrow space at the bottom of uterus that connects the uterus to the vagina. Cervical cancer occurs when the cells of the cervix begin to multiply uncontrollably, forming a tumor or growth.
Significance
Each year more than 11,000 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Types
Around 80 to 90 percent of cervical cancers are squamous cell carcinomas, which form in the cells closest to the vagina, according to the American Cancer Society. The remaining cases of cervical cancer are adenocarcinomas, which form on the part of the uterus closest to the vagina.
Symptoms
When cervical cancer first develops, it is likely to cause no symptoms, according to the Mayo Clinic. As the condition worsens, you may experience vaginal bleeding after intercourse or between periods; watery or bloody discharge from the uterus that has a foul odor; pelvic pain, or pain during intercourse.
Cause
One of the major causes of cervical cancer is the human papillomavirus or HPV, a sexually transmitted disease, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Treatment
When caught early, doctors often treat cervical cancer with minor surgical procedures that just remove the abnormal cells, such as laser surgery or loop electrosurgical excision procedures. More advanced cases may require a hysterectomy or surgical removal of the uterus and cervix, chemotherapy and radiation.
Prevention
Obtaining a Pap smear from a gynecologist each year helps catch abnormalities in cervical cells before they develop into invasive forms of cancer, reports the Mayo Clinic. In addition, the Gardasil vaccine prevents women from catching many forms of HPV, reducing the risk of cervical cancer.
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