Cervical Cancer develops in the lining of the cervix which is in the lower part of the uterus (womb). The cervix unites the body of the uterus to the vagina. Cervical cancer is known to develop overtime. It is important for women to get routine pap smears and check-ups with their physician. If precancerous cells are detected early, cancer may be prevented. Like other forms of cancer, if cervical cancer is diagnosed within its early stages, the patient has a greater chance of going into remission.

Current estimates show that there will be approximately 12,990 new cases of invasive cervical cancer in 2016. In the same year, about 4,120 will die from the disease. Cervical cancer used to be a common cause of cancer-related death among American women, but thanks to the rise of Pap smear testing, cervical cancer death rate has decreased in half in the last 40 years.

 
Types of Cervical Cancer
There are three main types of cervical cancers and these are:
-- Squamous cell carcinoma is the most common type of cervical cancer, accounting for about 90% of cases and they begin in the exocervix.
-- Adenocarcinoma of the cervix accounts for 5% to 20% of cervical cancer and develops from the glands. It has been observed that adenocarcinomas are becoming more common in women who were born in the last 20 to 30 years.
-- Adenosquamous carcinomas have the characteristics of both of squamous cell carcinomas and adenocarcinomas and are less common.
 

Symptoms
Early cervical cancer symptoms is sometimes painless or may not produce symptoms. The first sign may be an abnormal pap smear. Other symptoms may include:
-- Abnormal vaginal bleeding or spotting
-- Bleeding after intercourse
-- Vaginal discharge
-- Low back pain
-- Pelvic pain
-- Dyspareunia or painful sexual intercourse
-- Dysuria or painful urination
 

Risk Factors
The cause of cervical cancer is still unknown, but there are factors that affects a person’s risk to the disease.

Human papillomavirus virus (HPV) is the most important risk factor to speak of. Normally, a female will develop this virus before she develops cervical cancer. There are over a 100 different types of papillomaviruses; and some types, especially when they become severe, can lead to cervical cancer.

Many times a woman with a good immune system is successful in fighting off HPV and does not need to undergo treatment. One of the ways the virus is acquired is through sexual contact.

-- Chlamydia is a common vaginal infection that puts a woman at greater risk for cervical cancer. It’s a condition that’s spread through sexual contact and affects the vagina, cervix, urethram, penis, and in some cases, the eye or throat. Chlamydia can also lead to infertility.

-- Certain dietary patterns such as low intake of fruits and vegetables may also be a risk factor for cervical cancer. Research shows that overweight women are more likely to develop cervical cancer along with other types of cancers such as breast cancer.

-- Smoking increases a woman’s risk two-folds for cervical cancer and make them more prone to other types of cancers and diseases.

-- A weak immune system due to HIV and autoimmune diseases makes a woman more susceptible to cervical cancer. HIV or human immunodeficiency virus is responsible for causing AIDS, which puts the immune system at a compromised state. Meanwhile, medication for autoimmune conditions suppress immune system function.

-- Prolonged use of oral contraceptives can be linked to cervical cancer risk. A woman’s chances of incurring the disease may be doubled when she uses oral contraceptives for more than five years.

-- Intrauterine device is found to lessen cervical cancer risk. However, it’s still best to weigh its advantages and disadvantages with your doctor so that you can determine whether it’s the best choice for you or not.

-- Having more than three full-term pregnancies increases cervical cancer risk. While experts still don’t find a clear link between pregnancies and cervical cancer, some believe that unprotected sex (in order to get pregnant) and hormonal changes may be responsible why mothers of three or more children are more prone to the disease. In addition, women who gave birth before 17 years old are twice more likely to develop cervical cancer as opposed to those who didn’t get pregnant until age 25.

-- A history of cervical cancer in the family can double or triple a woman’s risk for developing the condition.

-- Low intake of fruits and vegetables and being overweight can also put a woman at a higher risk for cervical cancer.
Socio-economic status also plays a role in a woman’s risk. Those who are experiencing poverty may not have access or means to undergo pap tests, which is an essential cervical cancer screening procedure.
 

Prevention
-- Cervical cancer can be kept at bay through early detection of pre-cancers and steering clear of risk factors that you can control.

-- Women should go for regular Pap smear and HPV tests to detect pre-cancer conditions early on and address them before they actually develop into cervical cancer.

-- At the same time, it also pays to be protected during sexual intercourse, especially for those who are sexually active and have multiple partners. This helps avoid contact with HPV, a major risk factor to cervical cancer, and other sexually transmitted diseases.

-- Making smarter lifestyle choices like quitting tobacco use and going for a healthy diet can also help lessen a woman’s likelihood of developing the disease.