Inside Knowledge - Cervical Cancer Facts

Cervical Cancer

Get the Facts About Gynecologic Cancer

There are five main types of cancer that affect a woman’s reproductive
organs: cervical, ovarian, uterine, vaginal, and vulvar. As a group, they
are referred to as gynecologic (GY-neh-kuh-LAH-jik) cancer. (A sixth
type of gynecologic cancer is the very rare fallopian tube cancer.)
This fact sheet about cervical cancer is part of the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Inside Knowledge: Get the Facts
About Gynecologic Cancer campaign. The campaign helps women
get the facts about gynecologic cancer, providing important “inside
knowledge” about their bodies and health.

What is cervical cancer?
Cancer is a disease in which cells
in the body grow out of control.
Cancer is always named for the part
of the body where it starts, even if it
spreads to other body parts later.
When cancer starts in the cervix,
it is called cervical cancer. The
cervix is the lower, narrow end of
the uterus. The cervix connects the
vagina (the birth canal) to the upper
part of the uterus. The uterus (or
womb) is where a baby grows when
a woman is pregnant.

Fallopian Tubes

Cervical cancer is the easiest
gynecologic cancer to prevent with
regular screening tests and followup. It also is highly curable when
found and treated early.

Who gets cervical cancer?
All women are at risk for cervical
cancer. It occurs most often in
women over age 30. Each year,
approximately 12,000 women in the
United States get cervical cancer.
The 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 women
will get cervical cancer.

Ovaries

What are the symptoms?

Uterus

Early on, cervical cancer may
not cause signs and symptoms.
Advanced cervical cancer may
cause bleeding or discharge from
the vagina that is not normal for
you, such as bleeding after sex.
If you have any of these signs,
see your doctor. They may be
caused by something other than
cancer, but the only way to know
is to see your doctor.

Cervix
Vagina
Vulva

www.cdc.gov/cancer/knowledge 1-800-CDC-INFO

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Are there tests that can
prevent cervical cancer or
find it early?
There are two tests that can either
help prevent cervical cancer or
find it early:
• T
he Pap test (or Pap smear) looks
for precancers, cell changes, on
the cervix that can be treated, so
that cervical cancer is prevented.
The Pap test also can find cervical
cancer early, when treatment is
most effective. The Pap test is
recommended for women aged
21-65 years old.
The Pap test only screens
for cervical cancer. It does
not screen for any other
gynecologic cancer.
• T
he HPV test looks for HPV—
the virus that can cause
precancerous cell changes
and cervical cancer.

Inside Knowledge is an initiative that
supports the Gynecologic Cancer
Education and Awareness Act of 2005, or
Johanna’s Law, which was unanimously
passed by the U.S. House and Senate in
December of 2006, and signed into law
in January 2007.

7/11/12 1:40 PM

When should I get tested for
cervical cancer?
The Pap test is one of the most
reliable and effective cancer
screening tests available. You
should start getting regular Pap
tests at age 21. If your Pap test
results are normal, your doctor
may say that you will not need
another Pap test for three years.
The HPV test can be used to
screen for cervical cancer along
with the Pap test in women aged
30 years and older. It also is used
to provide more information when
women aged 21 years and older
have unclear Pap test results.
If you are age 30 or older, you may
choose to have an HPV test along
with the Pap test. If the results
are normal, your chance of getting
cervical cancer in the next few
years is very low. Your doctor may
then say that you can wait up to five
years for your next screening.
For women aged 21-65, it is
important to continue getting
a Pap test as directed by your
doctor—even if you think you are
too old to have a child or are not
having sex anymore. However, your
doctor may tell you that you do not
need to have a Pap test if either of
these is true for you:
• Y
 ou are older than 65 and have
had normal Pap test results for
several years.
• Y
 ou have had your cervix
removed as part of a total
hysterectomy for non-cancerous
conditions, like fibroids.

What raises a woman’s
chance of getting
cervical cancer?

What should I do if
my doctor says I have
cervical cancer?

Almost all cervical cancers are
caused by HPV. You are more likely
to get HPV if you started having
sex at an early age, or if you or your
partner have had sex with several
others. However, any woman who
has ever had sex is at risk for HPV.

If your doctor says that you have
cervical cancer, ask to be referred to
a gynecologic oncologist—a doctor
who has been trained to treat cancers
like this. This doctor will work with
you to create a treatment plan.

There are many types of HPV.
Usually HPV will go away on its
own, but if it does not, it may cause
cervical cancer over time.
In addition to having HPV, these
things also can increase your risk of
cervical cancer:
• Smoking.
• Having HIV (the virus that causes
AIDS) or another condition that
makes it hard for your body to
fight off health problems.

If you have a low income or do not
have insurance, you may be able
to get a free or low-cost Pap test
through the National Breast and
Cervical Cancer Early Detection
Program. To learn more, call
1-800-CDC-INFO or visit
www.cdc.gov/cancer/nbccedp.

• Using birth control pills for a long
time (five or more years).
• Having given birth to three or
more children.

How can I prevent
cervical cancer?
• Get the HPV vaccine. It protects
against the types of HPV that most
often cause cervical, vaginal, and
vulvar cancers. It is given in a
series of three shots. The vaccine
is recommended for 11 and 12 year
old girls. It is also recommended
for girls and women aged 13
through 26 who did not get any
or all of the shots when they were
younger. (Note: The vaccine can be
given to girls beginning at age 9.)
• See your doctor regularly for a
Pap test that can find cervical
precancers.

Where can I find more
information about
cervical and other
gynecologic cancers?
Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention: 1-800-CDC-INFO or
www.cdc.gov/cancer
National Cancer Institute:
1-800-4-CANCER or www.cancer.gov

• Use condoms during sex.*

* HPV infection can occur in both male and female
genital areas that are covered or protected by
a latex condom, as well as in areas that are not
covered. While the effect of condoms in preventing
HPV infection is unknown, condom use has been
associated with a lower rate of cervical cancer.

• Limit your number of sexual partners.

CDC Publication #99-9123, Revised July 2012

• Follow up with your doctor, if your
Pap test results are not normal.
• Don’t smoke.

U.S. Department of
Health and Human Services
Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention

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Where can I find free or
low-cost Pap tests?

Get the Facts About Gynecologic Cancer

7/11/12 1:40 PM