• Your health
• Acne
• Allergic Rhinitis
• Breast cancer
• Cervical cancer
• Diabetes
• Heart failure
• Hypertension
• Osteoporosis
• Psoriasis
• Respiratory diseases
• Rheumatoid arthritis

Cervical cancer

What is cervical cancer?

Cervical cancer is cancer of the cervix. The cervix is the lower narrow part of the woman's uterus (womb). Cervical cancer develops when some of the normal cells in the cervix become abnormal and start to grow in an uncontrolled way. Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer in women across the globe and in India it is the most common women's cancer. Cervical cancer is diagnosed in over 500,000 women every year globally and is the cause of 270,000 deaths globally and over 70,000 in India alone.

What causes cervical cancer?

Cervical cancer is not hereditary. Almost all cases of cervical cancer are caused by a common virus called Human Papillomavirus (HPV). There are around 100 different HPV types. Approximately 40 of these can infect the genital tract and can be classified as non-cancer-causing types and cancer-causing types. The cancer-causing types, of which there are approximately 15, could cause the growth of abnormal cells on cervix. The virus is usually cleared naturally but sometimes it persists inside the cells of the cervix and could cause abnormal cells to develop. If these cells are left undetected and untreated, they could go on to develop into cervical cancer. The most common cancer causing types are 16 and 18 - these two are responsible for 70% of cervical cancer globally. HPV is passed from person to person through sexual or skin to skin contact in the genital area.

How is cervical cancer detected?

People with cervical cancer may feel quite well and not show any signs or symptoms of being unwell for a long time. Vaginal bleeding between periods and new bleeding after the menopause could be signs of cervical cancer. However, these symptoms are not always due to cervical cancer. Regular check-ups involving a pelvic exam and 'pap smear' will help early diagnosis of cervical cancer. The Pap smear detects changes in the cervix that might become cervical cancer if they are not detected and treated.

Back to top