Cervical Cancer: Introduction
What is cancer?
We’ve all heard of cancer at some point in our lives—cancer screenings, cancer care,
and maybe even cancer treatment. But what is cancer? And what steps can you take to
prevent it?
Cancer is a disease that begins when some cells in your body grow out of control.
All cells grow and divide. But cancer cells grown even though your body doesn't need
them. And sometimes, cancer cells spread throughout the body in a process known as
metastasis.
There is no one symptom of cancer. In fact, it can have many different symptoms depending
on the type of cancer it is and where it is in your body. But luckily, there are many
ways to find cancer early and treat it.
What is cervical cancer?
Cancer that starts in cells of the cervix is called cervical cancer.
Understanding the cervix
The cervix is the lower, narrow part of the uterus. It connects the uterus to the
vagina, which leads to the outside of the body. It's between the bladder and the rectum.
The cervix tightens and loosens to let fluids pass between the uterus and vagina.
It’s also important to menstruation, pregnancy, and childbirth.
Looking for precancer
When cancer starts in cervical cells, it is called cervical cancer. If you are younger
than age 50, you may be at a higher risk. However, there are tests that can screen
for signs of cervical cancer before it develops. For example, the Pap test makes sure
the cells in your cervix are growing normally.
When you get a Pap test, a small brush is used to gently remove some cells from your
cervix. Medical professionals use a microscope to look at these cells to see if they
are normal. If they find cells that look different from other cells, your healthcare
provider will let you know. They may call these cells precancer, which means they
are cells that could become cancer. Your provider can also recommend ways to make
sure these cells do not turn into cancer.
Types of precancer
A Pap test can help find precancer cells. There are several types of precancer, including:
SIL is divided into 2 types:
-
Low-grade SIL. This refers to early changes in the size, shape, and number of cells on the surface
of the cervix. The changes may go away on their own. Or they may grow larger or become
more abnormal over time. Your provider may call these changes mild dysplasia or CIN
1.
-
High-grade SIL. This means there are many changed cells that are precancer cells. These changes only
happen in cells on the surface of the cervix. It can take a long time for these cells
to become cancer. But without treatment, they will become cancer. High-grade SIL may
also be called moderate or severe dysplasia, CIN 2 or 3, or carcinoma in situ.
It’s important to find and treat abnormal cells on the surface of the cervix as soon
as possible. Otherwise, they can spread deeper into the cervix or to other areas of
the body. When this happens, it's called cervical cancer, or invasive cervical cancer.
Preventing cervical cancer
There are 2 ways to prevent cervical cancer:
-
Get regular Pap tests. These tests find precancer cells as soon as possible, before they can change into
cancer.
-
Put a stop to precancer cells. You can do this by preventing infection with the human papillomavirus (HPV), getting
an HPV vaccine, and not smoking.
Talk with your healthcare provider
If you have questions about cervical cancer, cervical cancer screening, or ways to
prevent cervical cancer, talk with your provider. They can help you understand more
about this cancer.