Cervical cancer is a disease in which malignant cells form in the tissues of the cervix, which is part of a woman's reproductive system. With cancer of the cervix, there are usually no early symptoms -- this is why screening is so important. If symptoms do occur, they can include vaginal bleeding and pelvic pain, among other things. While no one knows the exact cause of cervical cancer, infection with the human papillomavirus (
HPV) is a major risk factor for developing it.
Surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy are the common treatment options for this type of cancer. Fortunately, there has been a decrease in the number of new cervical cancer cases in the last 50 years.
(To learn more, click Cervical Cancer. This article features a discussion on topics such as how it is diagnosed, additional symptoms, other risk factors, and the typical prognosis.)
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