Cervical Cancer
What is cervical cancer and how do women get it?
Cervical cancer is a common cancer that affects the cervix. Worldwide, cervical cancer is the 2nd leading cause of death among women. For more information about cervical cancer, visit the American Cancer Society.
Cervical cancer happens when the cells that make up the cervix become abnormal. While no one knows exactly what causes cervical cancer, signs of HPV or human papillomavirus has been found in many cases. For more information, click here.
The following activities may increase your risk for cervical cancer:
- Multiple sex partners.
- Having sex before age 18.
- Exposure to sexually transmitted infections.
- Having a weak immune system.
- Smoking.
To learn more about these risk factors, click here.
What are the signs of cervical cancer?
Abnormal vaginal bleeding, increased or heavy vaginal discharge, pelvic pain, pain during urination, and bleeding between periods are all symptoms of cervical cancer. For more information, visit the American Cancer Society or the Mayo Clinic.
Is cervical cancer curable?
Cervical cancer can be fatal, but many treatment options exist. The options available to a woman depend on what type of cervical cancer she has as well as how early it is diagnosed. For more information, visit the Cancer Treatment Centers of America or the Mayo Clinic.
Is cervical cancer preventable?
Recently, a vaccine to prevent HPV was introduced. This vaccine protects women against two types of HPV which have been linked to 70% of all cervical cancers. For more information, visit Gardasil.com.
