Cervical cancer information
Cervical cancer is a disease in which the cells of the cervix become abnormal and start
to grow uncontrollably, forming tumors.
The cervix is the lower part or the neck of the uterus (womb). It connects the uterus
to the vagina (birth canal). Cervical cancer generally begins as an abnormality in the
cells on the outside of the cervix. The initial changes that occur in the cells are not
cancerous and are referred to as "dysplasia." Over a period of time, more
changes may occur that make the cells cancerous. They start to grow uncontrollably and
invade the deep layers of the cervix. This is referred to as "invasive cancer."
Cervical cancer is a very slow growing cancer. The change in the cells from normal to
pre-cancerous to cancerous is very gradual and may take several years to develop. For this
reason, routine screening tests for cervical cancer are very important. When detected
early, pre-cancers and very early cervical cancers are nearly 100% curable.
Cervical cancer information - Causes
In the United States, cervical cancer accounts for 6% of all cancers in women. It
usually affects women between the ages of 40 and 55 years. Worldwide, cervical cancer is
the second most common cancer among women, with over 400,000 new cases diagnosed each
year. The incidence is very high in developing countries. In the last 40 years, there has
been a 75% decrease in the number of deaths due to cervical cancer in the United States.
The main reason is the use of the "Pap test" as a screening tool. The test
identifies the pre-invasive and the early invasive disease stages, which, if treated
appropriately, have a cure rate of nearly 100%.
The development of cervical cancer is gradual and begins as a
pre-cancerous condition called dysplasia. In this form it is 100% treatable, usually
without the need for a hysterectomy (surgical removal of the uterus).
Dysplasia, depending on its severity, can resolve without treatment, particularly in
young women. However, it often progresses to actual cancer called "carcinoma in
situ" (CIS) if it has not spread, or "microinvasive" if it has spread only
a few millimeters into the surrounding tissue and not into the lymph channels or blood
vessels.
It may take years for dysplasia to turn into carcinoma in situ or microinvasive cancer,
but once this process occurs the cancer can quickly spread deeper into nearby tissues or
other organs, such as the bladder, intestines, liver, or lungs.
Usually patients with cervical cancer do not experience problems until the cancer is
advanced and has spread. A Pap smear can pick up dysplasia and early forms of cervical
cancer that have not yet spread. Most women diagnosed today with cervical cancer have
either not had regular Pap smears or they have not followed up after having an abnormal
smear.
Cervical cancer information - risk factors
- Infection with the virus that causes genital warts (human papilloma virus or HPV) may
increase the risk of developing dysplasia and subsequent cancer. Fortunately, not all
women who have had HPV infection or genital warts develop cervical cancer. Some scientists
believe that other factors, such as smoking, may increase the risk of developing cervical
cancer in those who have had HPV.
- Early age at first sexual intercourse.
- Multiple sexual partners and/or partners who have multiple partners.
- In the early 1970's, it was discovered that women whose mothers took an estrogen drug
during pregnancy called DES (diethylstilbestrol) are at risk of a rare form of cervical
and vaginal cancer. For more information go to the DES
Action web page.
- There is a small increased risk of abnormal Pap smears among women who take birth
control pills. It is thought that this is because such women are more sexually active, are
less likely to use condoms, and have more frequent Pap smears in order to be prescribed
the birth control pill.
- Women whose immune systems are weakened -- such as those with HIV infection or women who
have received organ transplants and are taking drugs to suppress the immune system -- may
be at a higher risk.
- Infections with genital herpes or chronic chlamydia infections, both sexually
transmitted diseases, may increase risk.
- Poor women may be at higher risk because they are uninsured or not able to afford
regular pap smears.
Worldwide, cervical cancer is the third most common type of cancer in women. It is much
less common in the U.S. because most women have routine Pap smears that can detect the
early treatable forms of the disease.
It is thought that the Pap smear has reduced the death rate from this disease by 70%
since it was introduced in 1941. However, many women are still diagnosed with cervical
cancer in the U.S. In the year 2000, 12,800 women were diagnosed with cervical cancer and
there were 4,600 deaths from this disease. |