Cervical cancer remains the single most pressing cancer concern for women in many parts of the world. Cervical cancer has been reduced from the 2nd to the 13th most common cause cancer death in American women during the last century due in large part to successful screening efforts, predominantly involving widespread availability of the Pap smear. Still, more than 14,500 American women are diagnosed with cervical cancer annually, and failure to be screened remains one of the most cited causes.

Cervical cancer is thought to be a late development of infection with the human papilloma virus, some strains of which are also responsible for genital warts. The transformation from normal cervical tissue to cancer is thought to typically take years. Highlighting the importance of screening is the fact that dysplasias, or "pre-cancerous changes," are usually detectable months to years before the development of cancer. Treatment of dysplasias can usually be done without major surgery and it is highly successful at preventing cancer from developing.

 On this page:

• Risk Factors
• Symptoms
• Treatment

Risk Factors

• Number of sexual partners 
• History of sexually-transmitted diseases 
• Young age at first intercourse (less than 17 years) 
• Low socioeconomic status 
• Smoking 

Top of page

Symptoms

The most common symptoms of cervical cancer are:

• In early disease there are no symptoms, but frequently pap smear abnormalities can be detected.
• In later stages, abnormal vaginal bleeding, particularly following intercourse, pain, foul-smelling vaginal discharge, and leg swelling are the most common symptoms.

Top of page

Treatment

There are multiple successful options for the treatment of early-stage cervical cancer. The treatment choices are based on the tumor position, extent, and patient's desires with regard to the risks of treatment. Surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, and combinations of the above are all used in the treatment of cervical cancer. Most women with cervical cancer will qualify for participation in a clinical trial. (Also see: Patients with advanced hematologic malignancies and women's cancers sought for new clinical research studies)

See the Gynecologic Cancer home page for more information about treatment through the University of Minnesota Women's Cancer Center, clinical trials, gynecologic cancer research, and gynecologic cancer care team members.

More information about cervical cancer is available on the National Cancer Institute Web site.

Top of page