Cervical Cancer

1. Cervical Cancer Slideshow Pictures
2. Cancer Symptoms Women Ignore Slideshow
3. Ovarian Cancer Slideshow Pictures

Medical Author:

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical Editor

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical Editor

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology.

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Medical Editor:

Jerry R. Balentine, DO, FACEP

Jerry R. Balentine, DO, FACEP

Dr. Balentine received his undergraduate degree from McDaniel College in Westminster, Maryland. He attended medical school at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine graduating in1983. He completed his internship at St. Joseph's Hospital in Philadelphia and his Emergency Medicine residency at Lincoln Medical and Mental Health Center in the Bronx, where he served as chief resident.

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• Cervical Cancer Overview
• Cervical Cancer Causes
• Cervical Cancer Symptoms
• When to Seek Medical Care
• Cervical Cancer Diagnosis
• Cervical Cancer: Abnormal Cells
• Cervical Cancer Treatment
• Cervical Cancer Self-Care at Home
• Precancerous Lesions Medical Treatment
• Invasive Cancer Medical Treatment
• Cervical Cancer Surgery
• Cervical Cancer Follow-up
• Cervical Cancer Prevention
• Cervical Cancer Prognosis
• Support Groups and Counseling
• Synonyms and Keywords
• Author and Editor
• Read more on Cervical Cancer from Healthwise
• Viewer Comments: Cervical Cancer - Risk Factors

The uterine cervix is the lowest portion of a woman's uterus (womb). Most of the uterus lies in the pelvis, but part of the cervix is located in the vagina, where it connects the uterus with the vagina.

Cancer of the cervix occurs when the cells of the cervix change in a way that leads to abnormal growth and invasion of other tissues or organs of the body.

Like all cancers, cancer of the cervix is much more likely to be cured if it is detected early and treated immediately.

• One of the key features of cervical cancer is its slow progression from normal cervical tissue, to precancerous (or dysplastic) changes in the tissue, to invasive cancer.
• The slow progression through numerous precancerous changes is very important because it provides opportunities for prevention and early detection (through Pap test) and treatment.
• These opportunities have caused a decline in the incidence of cervical cancer over the past decades in the United States. Still, over 12,000 new cases of cervical cancer occur each year in the U.S., and over 4,000 women die each year from the disease.

Invasive cancer means that the cancer affects the deeper tissues of the cervix and may have spread to other parts of the body. This spread is called metastasis. Cervical cancers don't always spread, but those that do most often spread to the lungs, the liver, the bladder, the vagina, and/or the rectum.

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