Women’s Health Brochure on Cervical Cancer

Overview of the Disease
* Cervical cancer is an abnormal cell growth in the cervix.
* The cervix is the bottom end of the uterus in women that links the uterus to the vagina.
* Just like most cancers, cervical cancer grows slowly and may go undetected until it is in its later stages.
* Before cancer starts growing in the cervix, the cervical cells change significantly, a process referred to as dysplasia (NCI).
* During this process, abnormal cancerous cells begin forming in the tissue.
* With time, if not detected and attacked, the cells develop to become cancerous and begin to develop very rapidly over the cervix and into the surrounding areas.
Diagnostic Tests
* Diagnostic tests may be selected for every individual patient based on the following:
* The type of cancer being suspected, the presenting signs and symptoms, one’s age and health status, and results from medical tests done prior (Cancer.Net).
* Some of these tests include:
* Pap Test, where a sample of cells from the cervix is obtained for testing.
* The bimanual pelvic examination and sterile speculum examination. Here, the doctor checks and observes any alterations in the cervix, ovaries, uterus, vagina, and other nearby organs (Cancer.Net). An instrument called a speculum is used to keep the vaginal walls open for easy observation.
* HPV test, which is done just like the Pap test.
* Biopsy, which involves the excision of a small tissue for a examination. A biopsy makes the most definite diagnosis (Cancer.Net).

CERVICAL CANCERSigns and SymptomsIn its early stages, cervical cancer may not present any signs or symptoms. They only begin to appear after the cancer has spread into the cervical tissue and the surrounding areas.If symptoms appear early on, they may include vaginal bleeding, especially after sexual intercourse, pain during sex, and watery and bloody va...