• What is cervical cancer?
• How common is cervical cancer?
• How is cervical cancer detected?
• Can cervical cancer be treated?
• What can I do to decrease my chances of getting cervical cancer?

When cells in an area of the body grow abnormally, cancer can develop. Cervical cancer is abnormal cell growth of the cervix. The cervix is the lower part of the uterus or womb.

Cervical cancer is a serious disease that can be life threatening. When a woman becomes infected with certain types of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) and does not clear the infection, abnormal cells can develop in the lining of the cervix.

If not discovered early and treated, these abnormal cells can become cervical precancers, which then turn into cancer cells. This can take a number of years, although in some cases, it can happen within a year. Talk to your healthcare professional about a Pap test (also known as a Papanicolaou smear), which can help detect suspicious cell changes in the cervix before they turn into cancer.