Cervical cancer happens when normal cells in the cervix change into abnormal cells, and grow out of control. Most women whose cervical cancer is found and treated early do very well.

Symptoms of cervical cancer — Cervical cancer may not cause any symptoms at first. When it does cause symptoms, it can cause vaginal bleeding that occurs:

• In between menstrual cycles (other than your during period)
• After sex
• After menopause

These symptoms can also be caused by conditions that are not cancer. But if have vaginal bleeding at these times, tell the doctor or nurse.

Test for cervical cancer — A Pap test (also called a “Pap smear”) is used to screen women for cervical cancer. For this test, the doctor or nurse props open the walls of the vagina using a device that looks like a duck beak (called a speculum). He or she will then use a small brush to collect cells from the cervix. A doctor will look at the cells under a microscope to see if they are abnormal.

If the cells are abnormal, the doctor follows up with a test called a biopsy. During a biopsy, the doctor removes a tiny piece of abnormal-looking tissue from the cervix. To see the cervix better during a biopsy, the doctor uses a magnifying lens called a “colposcope.”

Doctors sometimes find cells in the cervix that are not cancer, but are abnormal and have a high chance of turning into cancer. the doctor can treat these “pre-cancer” cells in different ways. He or she might remove them to prevent them from turning into cancer. Or he or she might watch them closely over time.

Cervical cancer staging — Cancer staging is a way in which doctors find out how far a cancer has spread.

The right treatment for will depend a lot on the stage of the cancer, the age, and other health problems. The treatment will also depend on whether you might want to get pregnant in the future.

Cervical cancer treatment:

• Surgery – Cervical cancer is usually treated with surgery to remove the cancer. Different types of surgery can involve:
• Removing the cervix, uterus, and upper part of the vagina – This is called a “radical hysterectomy”
• Removing all or part of the cervix – The uterus is left in place. This type of surgery is done only in special situations.
• Radiation therapy – Radiation kills cancer cells.
• Chemotherapy – Chemotherapy is the term doctors use to describe a group of medicines that kill cancer cells. Women usually receive chemotherapy at the same time as radiation therapy.

To get pregnant — If People want to have a baby one day, talk with the doctor before having treatment. Some women can still get pregnant after being treated for cervical cancer. But, a woman cannot get pregnant after some types of treatment, such as a hysterectomy, radiation therapy, or some types of chemotherapy.

Women are often able to get pregnant after other types of treatment. But they usually need to wait 6 to 12 months before they start trying to get pregnant, because their body needs time to heal.

After treatment:  People will be checked every so often to see if the cancer comes back. Follow up tests can include exams, Pap tests, and X-rays.

The cancer comes back or spreads:  If the cancer comes back or spreads, have more surgeries, radiation, or chemotherapy.

What else should I do? — It is important to follow all the doctor’s instructions about visits and tests. It’s also important to talk to the doctor about any side effects or problems during treatment.

Getting treated for cervical cancer involves making many choices, such as which type of surgery to have.

Prevention of cervical cancer:

Cervical cancer is caused by a virus called HPV (human papillomavirus) that is spread through skin-to-skin contact and sex. Vaccines (shots) that prevent people from getting infected with HPV are now available. Ask the doctor if and when should get an HPV vaccine. This vaccine is available for men and women, and works best if a person receives it before he or she starts having sex.