Cervical Cancer

“Cervical cancer is most frequently diagnosed
in women between the ages of 35 and 44,
with the average age being 50”.1

Umbrella

What may the Cervical Cancer Umbrella include?

Depending on the Source (DotS) this Umbrella may include:

  • Cancer of the Cervix
  • Cervical Cancer
  • Cervix Cancer

Cancer

What is the cancer?

DotS the definition of cancer may vary. The (United States) National Cancer Institute’s (NCI) definition is:

“Cancer
A term for diseases in which abnormal cells divide without control and can invade nearby tissues. Cancer cells can also spread to other parts of the body through the blood and lymph systems”.2

Cervix

What is the cervix?

DotS the definition of the cervix may vary. The CDC’s definition:

“The cervix connects the vagina (birth canal) to the upper part of the uterus. The uterus (or womb) is where a baby grows during pregnancy”.3

Definition

What is cervical cancer?

DotS the definition of cervical cancer may vary. The (United States) National Cancer Institute’s (NCI) definition is:

“Cervical cancer
Cancer that forms in tissues of the cervix (the organ connecting the uterus and vagina). It is usually a slow-growing cancer that may not have symptoms but can be found with regular Pap tests (a procedure in which cells are scraped from the cervix and looked at under a microscope)”.4

Signs and Symptoms

What are signs and symptoms of cervical cancer?

In Cervical Cancer: Early Detection, Diagnosis, and Staging: Signs and Symptoms of Cervical Cancer the American Cancer Society (ACS) explain:

“Women with early cervical cancers and pre-cancers usually have no symptoms. Symptoms often do not begin until the cancer becomes larger and grows into nearby tissue. When this happens, the most common symptoms are:

  • Abnormal vaginal bleeding, such as bleeding after vaginal sex, bleeding after menopause, bleeding and spotting between periods, or having (menstrual) periods that are longer or heavier than usual. Bleeding after douching may also occur
  • An unusual discharge from the vagina − the discharge may contain some blood and may occur between your periods or after menopause
  • Pain during sex
  • Pain in the pelvic region”.5

Cause

What causes cervical cancer?

In Cervical Cancer: Cervical Cancer Basics the CDC explain:

“Anyone with a cervix is at risk for cervical cancer. It occurs most often in people over age 30. Long-lasting infection with certain types of human papillomavirus (HPV) is the main cause of cervical cancer. HPV is a common virus that is passed from one person to another during sex. At least half of sexually active people will have HPV at some point in their lives, but few will get cervical cancer”.6

In Cervical Cancer: Causes the (Australian) Jean Hailes for Women’s Health (JH) also note:

“Cervical cancer is almost always caused by human papillomavirus (HPV).

HPV is a common sexually transmitted infection that affects the surface cells of the genital area, including the cervix, vagina and vulva. It can also cause visible warts.

HPV is very common. About 80% of women will have the virus at some point in their lives, but many don’t know they’ve been exposed to the infection.

Most women with the infection don’t develop cervical cancer. Only certain types of HPV cause cancer.

Cervical cancer usually develops many years after the HPV infection occurs”.7

In Cervical Cancer: Risks and Causes the (United Kingdom) Cancer Research UK elaborate on risks and causes of cervical cancer.

Age

Is there an association between age and cervical cancer?

In Cervical Cancer: About Cervical Cancer – Key Statistics for Cervical Cancer the ACS note:


Cervical Cancer
“Cervical cancer is most frequently diagnosed in women between the ages of 35 and 44, with the average age being 50. It rarely develops in women younger than 20.

Many older women don’t realize that they are still at risk of developing cervical cancer as they age. More than 20% of cervical cancers are found in women over 65. However, these cancers rarely occur in women who have been getting regular tests to screen for cervical cancer before they were 65”.8

Common or Not

How common is cervical cancer?

In Cervical Cancer: Overview the World Health Organization note:

“Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women. In 2018, an estimated 570 000 women were diagnosed with cervical cancer worldwide and about 311 000 women died from the disease”.9

Pap Tests

Can when to start, when to stop and how often to have regular Pap tests, vary?

Depending on You, DotS and/or Depending on Your Country’s cervical cancer screening program, when to start, when to stop and how often to have regular Pap tests, can vary. It may therefore be in your best interest to choose to check what’s-what for you in your country.

Early Detection

Is there an association between regular Pap tests and the early detection of cervical cancer?

Yes. In Cervical Cancer the ACS explain:

“Cervical cancer can often be found early, and sometimes even prevented, by having regular screening tests. If detected early, cervical cancer is one of the most successfully treatable cancers”.10

Health Care Provider

What if I think I have cervical cancer?

If you think you have cervical cancer, or you are concerned about anything down there, it may be in your best interest to choose to talk to your health care provider about this.

In Cervical Cancer: Symptoms & Causes – Symptoms: When To See A Doctor a (United States) Mayo Clinic expert explains:

“Make an appointment with your doctor if you have any signs or symptoms that concern you”.11

Health Topics A-Z

Where may I find Health Topics A-Z related to Cervical Cancer?

In Health Topics A-Z you may find:

Health Topics A-Z

Links

Where may I find Links related to Cervical Cancer?

Your Country may have Links similar to:

Links

This Links List to third party websites is neither comprehensive nor exhaustive. Inclusion on this Links List does not imply endorsement or recommendation. Non-inclusion on this Links List does not imply non-endorsement or non-recommendation. Third party websites are not under the control of Meno Martha International Menopause Directory. Third party websites may contain explicit medical images and/or sexual references. Please read Meno Martha International Menopause Directory’s Links Policy before proceeding to a Link. Please contact Webmaster if you experience a problem with a Link.

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  66. HPV and Pap Testing
  67. HPV and Pap Testing: Do Women Who Have Been Vaccinated Against HPV Still Need To Be Screened for Cervical Cancer?
  68. HPV and Pap Testing: What Causes Cervical Cancer?
  69. Human Papillomavirus (HPV)
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  91. Videos and Podcasts: Videos – Interviews: How Do I Deal With the Menopause After A Diagnosis of Gynaecological Cancer
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Sources

Where may I find the Sources quoted?

You may find the Sources quoted at:

Sources

  1. Cervical Cancer: About Cervical Cancer – Key Statistics for Cervical Cancer. Last Revised: 17 January 2024. American Cancer Society https://www.cancer.org/cancer/cervical-cancer/about/key-statistics.html Accessed: 11 June 2024
  2. NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms: C — Cancer. National Cancer Institute https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-terms/expand/C Accessed: 11 June 2024
  3. Cervical Cancer: Cervical Cancer Basics – What It Is. 22 February 2024. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention https://www.cdc.gov/cervical-cancer/about/index.html Accessed: 11 June 2024
  4. NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms: C — Cervical Cancer. National Cancer Institute https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-terms/expand/C Accessed: 11 June 2024
  5. Cervical Cancer: Early Detection, Diagnosis, and Staging: Signs and Symptoms of Cervical Cancer. Last Revised: 03 January 2020. American Cancer Society https://www.cancer.org/cancer/cervicalcancer/detailedguide/cervical-cancer-signs-symptoms Accessed: 11 June 2024
  6. Cervical Cancer: Cervical Cancer Basics – What It Is. 22 February 2024. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention https://www.cdc.gov/cervical-cancer/about/index.html Accessed: 11 June 2024
  7. Cervical Cancer: Causes. Last Updated: 08 February 2024 | Last Reviewed: 14 April 2023. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/vulva-vagina-ovaries-uterus/cervical-cancer Accessed: 11 June 2024
  8. Cervical Cancer: About Cervical Cancer – Key Statistics for Cervical Cancer. Last Revised: 17 January 2024. American Cancer Society https://www.cancer.org/cancer/cervical-cancer/about/key-statistics.html Accessed: 11 June 2024
  9. Cervical Cancer: Overview. World Health Organization https://www.who.int/health-topics/cervical-cancer#tab=tab_1 Accessed: 11 June 2024
  10. Cervical Cancer. American Cancer Society https://www.cancer.org/cancer/cervicalcancer/index Accessed: 11 June 2024
  11. Butler, K. Cervical Cancer: Symptoms & Causes – Symptoms: When To See A Doctor. 14 December 2022. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/cervical-cancer/symptoms-causes/syc-20352501 Accessed: 11 June 2024

Topic Last Updated: 21 June 2024 – Topic Last Reviewed: 11 June 2024
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