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Definition
By Mayo Clinic staff
Cervical cancer is one of the most common cancers that affect a woman's reproductive organs. Various strains of the human papillomavirus (HPV), a sexually transmitted infection, play a role in causing most cases of cervical cancer.
When exposed to HPV, a woman's immune system typically prevents the virus from doing harm. In a small group of women, however, the virus survives for years before it eventually converts some cells on the surface of the cervix into cancer cells. Cervical cancer occurs most often in women over age 30.
Thanks largely to Pap test screening, the death rate from cervical cancer has decreased greatly over the last 50 years. And today, most cases of cervical cancer can be prevented with a vaccine for young women.
- Warren JB, et al. Cervical cancer screening and updated Pap guidelines. Primary Care: Clinics in Office Practice. 2009;36:131.
- Molpus KL, et al. Gynecologic cancers. In: Goldman L, et al., eds. Goldman: Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2007. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/135557788-7/837587224/1492/770.html#4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-2805-5..50214-7_9477. Accessed April 30, 2009.
- Zell JA, et al. Cancer prevention, screening and early detection. In: Abeloff MD, et al. Abeloff's Clinical Oncology. 4th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Churchill Livingstone; 2008. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/135557788-9/837588846/1709/31.html#4-u1.0-B978-0-443-06694-8..50030-0_657. Accessed April 30, 2009.
- How is cervical cancer diagnosed? American Cancer Society. Accessed April 30, 2009.
- What is cervical cancer? American Cancer Society. Accessed April 30, 2009.
- Holschneider CH, et al. Invasive cervical cancer: Management of early stage disease (FIGO IA, IB1, nonbulky IIA) and special circumstances. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed April 30, 2009.
- Shepherd JH. Conservative surgery for carcinoma of the cervix. Clinical Oncology. 2008;20:395.
- Cervical cancer. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/cervical/pdf/cervical_facts.pdf. Accessed April 30, 2009.
- Holschneider CH. Invasive cervical cancer: Epidemiology, clinical features, and diagnosis. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed April 30, 2009.
- Cervical cancer. National Cancer Institute. http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/cervical/Patient/page2. Accessed April 30, 2009.
- Detailed guide: Cervical cancer treatment options by stage. American Cancer Society. Accessed April 30, 2009.
- Holschneider CH, et al. Invasive cervical cancer: Management of stages IB2, bulky IIA, and locally advanced disease. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed April 30, 2009.
- The emotional impact of a cancer diagnosis. American Cancer Society. Accessed April 30, 2009.
- Pap test. National Women's Health Information Center. http://www.womenshealth.gov/faq/pap-test.cfm. Accessed April 30, 2009.
- HPV vaccine information for young women. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/std/hpv/STDFact-HPV-vaccine-young-women.htm. Accessed April 30, 2009.
- Your first gynecologic visit. American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology. http://www.acog.org/publications/patient_education/bp150.cfm?printerFriendly=yes. Accessed April 30, 2009.
- Moynihan TJ (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. May 12, 2009.
- Cervical cytology screening. Washington, D.C.: American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. http://journals.lww.com/greenjournal/documents/PB109_Cervical_Cytology_Screening.pdf. Accessed Nov. 20, 2009.
