The cervix is the lower part of the uterus, the place where a baby grows during pregnancy. Cervical cancer is caused by several types of a virus called human papillomaviruses (HPV). The virus spreads through sexual contact. Most women's bodies are able to fight HPV infection. But sometimes the virus leads to cancer. You're at higher risk if you smoke, have many children, use birth control pills for a long time, or have HIV infection.
Cervical cancer may not cause any symptoms at first, but later, you may have pelvic pain or bleeding from the vagina. It usually takes several years for normal cells in the cervix to turn into cancer cells. Your health care provider can find abnormal cells by doing a Pap test - examining cells from the cervix under a microscope. By getting regular Pap tests and pelvic exams you can find and treat changing cells before they turn into cancer.
A vaccine for girls and young women protects against the four types of HPV that cause most cervical cancers.
National Cancer Institute
-
Cervical Cancer Risk: Understanding the Puzzle
(National Cancer Institute) - http://understandingrisk.cancer.gov/a_cervical/00.cfm
-
What You Need to Know about Cancer of the Cervix(National Cancer Institute) - http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/wyntk/cervix
Also available in Spanish http://www.cancer.gov/espanol/sabersobre/cervix
-
Cervical Cancer
(National Women's Health Information Center) - http://womenshealth.gov/faq/cervical-cancer.cfm
-
Cervical Cancer(National Cancer Institute) - http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/types/cervical
- Detailed Guide: Cervical Cancer(American Cancer Society) - http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/CRI_2_3x.asp?dt=8
-
JAMA Patient Page: Carcinoma of the Cervix(American Medical Association) - http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/reprint/298/19/2336.pdf
Also available in Spanish http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/data/298/19/2336/DC1/1
- Don't Lower Age for Cervical Cancer Test, Study Urges(04/24/2009, HealthDay) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_83302.html
- HPV Data May Aid Vaccine's Effectiveness(03/24/2009, HealthDay) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_82079.html
-
Colposcopy
(Patient Education Institute) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/tutorials/colposcopy/htm/index.htm
Also available in Spanish http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/spanish/tutorials/colposcopyspanish/htm/index.htm -
Dilation and Curettage(Patient Education Institute) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/tutorials/dilatationandcurettage/htm/index.htm
Also available in Spanish http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/spanish/tutorials/dilatationandcurettagespanish/htm/index.htm
- How Do I Know If I Have Cervical Cancer?(Gynecologic Cancer Foundation) - http://www.cervicalcancercampaign.org/ccfacts/symptoms.html
-
Pap Tests(Food and Drug Administration, Office of Women's Health) - http://www.fda.gov/womens/getthefacts/paptests.html
Also available in Spanish http://www.fda.gov/womens/getthefacts/spanish/paptests-spanish.html
-
Cervical Cancer (PDQ): Treatment(National Cancer Institute) - http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/cervical/patient/
Also available in Spanish http://www.cancer.gov/espanol/pdq/tratamiento/cuellouterino/patient/
- Cone Biopsy(American Society for Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology) - Links to PDF - http://www.asccp.org/pdfs/patient_edu/cone_biopsy.pdf
-
Cryosurgery in Cancer Treatment: Questions and Answers(National Cancer Institute) - http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Therapy/cryosurgery
- How Is Cervical Cancer Treated?(American Cancer Society) - http://www.cancer.org/docroot/cri/content/cri_2_4_4x_how_is_cervical_cancer_treated_8.asp?sitearea=cri
- Radiation Therapy for Gynecologic Cancers(American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology) - http://www.rtanswers.org/treatment/disease/gyn_cancer.htm
- Cervical Cancer Vaccine: Who Needs It, How It Works(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/cervical-cancer-vaccine/WO00120/METHOD=print
-
Get Tested for Cervical Cancer(Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion) - http://healthfinder.gov/prevention/ViewTopic.aspx?topicID=13
-
Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccines for Cervical Cancer(National Cancer Institute) - http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/hpv-vaccines
-
Pap Smear(Patient Education Institute) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/tutorials/papsmear/htm/index.htm
Also available in Spanish http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/spanish/tutorials/papsmearspanish/htm/index.htm
-
Pap Test(National Cancer Institute) - http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Detection/Pap-test
Also available in Spanish http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Detection/Pap-test-spanish
-
Understanding Cervical Changes: A Health Guide for Women(National Cancer Institute) - http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/understandingcervicalchanges
- Cervical Dysplasia(American Medical Association) - http://www.medem.com/MedLB/article_detaillb.cfm?article_ID=ZZZIY13X59C&sub_cat=9
-
Human Papillomaviruses and Cancer: Questions and Answers(National Cancer Institute) - http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Risk/HPV
Also available in Spanish http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Risk/HPV-spanish
- Cancer Treatment for Women: Possible Sexual Side Effects(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/cancer-treatment/SA00071/METHOD=print
- DES (Diethylstilbestrol) Update: Consumers(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - http://www.cdc.gov/DES/consumers/
-
DES: Questions and Answers(National Cancer Institute) - http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Risk/DES
-
Oral Contraceptives and Cancer Risk(National Cancer Institute) - http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Risk/oral-contraceptives
Also available in Spanish http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Risk/oral-contraceptives-spanish
- Professional Help: Sexuality and Cancer(American Cancer Society) - http://www.cancer.org/docroot/mit/content/mit_7_2x_where_to_seek_professional_help_women.asp
- What Should You Ask Your Doctor about Cervical Cancer?(American Cancer Society) - http://www.cancer.org/docroot/cri/content/cri_2_4_5x_what_should_you_ask_your_doctor_about_cervical_cancer_8.asp?sitearea=cri
-
Cervical Cancer Risk Questionnaire(Harvard Center for Cancer Prevention) - http://www.yourdiseaserisk.siteman.wustl.edu/hccpquiz.pl?lang=english&func=start&quiz=cervical
Also available in Spanish http://www.yourdiseaserisk.wustl.edu/hccpquiz.pl?lang=spanish&func=start&quiz=cervical
-
Cervical Cancer Risk: Understanding the Puzzle(National Cancer Institute) - http://understandingrisk.cancer.gov/a_cervical/00.cfm
-
Colposcopy(Patient Education Institute) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/tutorials/colposcopy/htm/index.htm
Also available in Spanish http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/spanish/tutorials/colposcopyspanish/htm/index.htm
-
Dilation and Curettage(Patient Education Institute) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/tutorials/dilatationandcurettage/htm/index.htm
Also available in Spanish http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/spanish/tutorials/dilatationandcurettagespanish/htm/index.htm
-
Pap Smear(Patient Education Institute) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/tutorials/papsmear/htm/index.htm
Also available in Spanish http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/spanish/tutorials/papsmearspanish/htm/index.htm
- Radical Hysterectomy Procedure for Cervical Cancer(OR-Live) - One hour program - http://www.or-live.com/distributors/NLM/rnh.cfm?id=248
-
Surgical Tutorial of a Robotic-Assisted Anterior Pelvic Exenteration(OR-Live) - One hour program - 1/22/2009 - http://www.or-live.com/distributors/NLM-Flash/ins_2271/rnh.cfm?id=829
- Cervical Cancer Screening(Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services) - http://www.cms.hhs.gov/CervicalCancerScreening/
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Uterine Cervical Neoplasms(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/condition=%22Uterine+Cervical+Neoplasms%22
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Vaginal Smears(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/condition=%22Vaginal+Smears%22
-
Cancer Advances in Focus: Cervical Cancer(National Cancer Institute) - http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/cancer-advances-in-focus/cervical
-
Cervical Cancer(National Institutes of Health) - Links to PDF - http://www.nih.gov/about/researchresultsforthepublic/Cervicalcancer.pdf
-
HPV Vaccine Not Effective for Treating Pre-Existing Infections(National Cancer Institute) - http://www.cancer.gov/clinicaltrials/results/HPV0807
-
Incomplete Excision a Risk for Those with Precancerous Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia (CIN)(National Cancer Institute) - http://www.cancer.gov/clinicaltrials/results/CIN1207
-
Results of Pap Smears and Human Papillomavirus Tests during Cervical Cancer Screening(American College of Physicians) - Links to PDF - http://www.annals.org/cgi/reprint/148/7/I-32.pdf
References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
- Article: Usefulness of p16 for differentiating primary pulmonary squamous cell carcinoma... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=19369633&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: HPV vaccination in Italy: perspectives after 1-year experience. - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=19350958&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: HPV screening for cervical cancer in rural India. - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=19339719&tool=MedlinePlus
- Cervical Cancer -- see more articles - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=search&db=pubmed&term=(uterine+cervical+neoplasms[majr]+OR+cervical+intraepithelial+neoplasia[majr])+AND+english[la]+AND+humans[mh]+AND+(jsubsetk[text]+OR+review[pt]+OR+jsubsetn[text]+OR+jsubsetaim[text]+OR+patient+education+handout[pt]+OR+guideline[pt]+OR+clinical+trial[pt])+NOT+(letter[pt]+OR+editorial[pt]+OR+case+reports[pt])&doptcmdl=summary&cmd_current=Limits&pmfilter_EDatLimit=last+1+Year&tool=MedlinePlus
-
Dictionary of Cancer Terms(National Cancer Institute) - http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary/
- ACOG's Physician Directory(American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists) - http://www.acog.org/member-lookup/disclaimer.cfm
- Find a Gynecologic Oncologist(Society of Gynecologic Oncologists, Women's Cancer Network) - http://www.wcn.org/findadoctor/
- Find an Oncologist(American Society of Clinical Oncology) - http://www.cancer.net/patient/Diagnosis+and+Treatment/Finding+Quality+Care/Find+an+Oncologist/Find+an+Oncologist+Database
- National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program Contacts(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - Directory of free or low-cost mammogram and Pap test programs - http://apps.nccd.cdc.gov/cancercontacts/nbccedp/contacts.asp
-
National Cancer Institute Cancer Centers Program(National Cancer Institute) - http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/NCI/cancer-centers
Also available in Spanish http://www.cancer.gov/espanol/instituto/hojas-informativas/programa-centros-oncologicos
- American Cancer Society - http://www.cancer.org/
- American Society for Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology - http://www.asccp.org/
- Gynecologic Cancer Foundation - http://www.thegcf.org/
-
National Cancer Institute - http://www.cancer.gov/
- Breast and Cervical Cancer Legislation(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/nbccedp/legislation/
- Breast and Cervical Cancer Prevention and Treatment Act of 2000(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/nbccedp/legislation/law106-354.htm
-
Cancer of the Cervix Uteri(National Cancer Institute) - http://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/cervix.html
- Cervical Cancer Statistics(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/cervical/statistics/
-
6 Common Cancers- Gynecologic Cancers - Cervical, Endometrial, and Ovarian - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/magazine/issues/spring07/articles/spring07pg13.html
-
Pap Tests for Older Women(National Cancer Institute) - http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pap-tests-older-women
- Uterine Diseases - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/uterinediseases.html
- Cancers - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/cancers.html
- Female Reproductive System - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/femalereproductivesystem.html
- Women - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/women.html
The primary NIH organization for research on Cervical Cancer is the National Cancer Institute - http://www.nci.nih.gov/
Cervical Cancer - Multiple Languages - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/languages/cervicalcancer.html