Cervical cancer overview

Cervical cancer overview

While the frequency of cervical cancer has decreased significantly in the last 50 years, in part due to effective early screening programs, it is still one of the leading causes of cancer in women. In the United States, the annual rate of cervical cancer is around 10,000 cases per year.

Nearly all cervical cancers are caused by infection from certain strains of the human papillomavirus (HPV). HPV is the most common sexually transmitted virus that affects an estimated 50 to 80% of all adults. In almost all HPV infections, the immune system is able to fight off infection and the cervix remains healthy. Rarely, the body cannot eliminate the infection and the risk of cervical cancer increases. It can take years for an HPV infection to develop into cervical cancer. If cervical caner is left untreated, the cancer cells can eventually spread to the vagina, bladder, bowel, lungs, bones, and other organs.

The FDA approved two HPV vaccines (Gardasil and Cervarix) for girls over 11 and women under 26. The vaccine protects against the most dangerous types of HPV that cause cervical cancer. The HPV vaccines are most effective when given to women before they are sexually active. HPV vaccines are given by injection in 3 doses.

What is the cervix?

The uterus is known as the womb that develops a fertilized egg into a fetus. The cervix is the passageway between the uterus and vagina. Cells that line the surface of the cervix are called squamous cells and columnar cells. An HPV infection can cause abnormal changes in shape to these cells that can eventually lead to cervical cancer. Cervical cancers that affect the squamous cells are called squamous cell carcinomas and form the majority of cervical cancers. Cervical adenocarcinoma, which affects the columnar cells, accounts for the remaining 10% of cervical cancers.