Cervical Cancer
Cervical Cancer
Cervical Cancer (pronounced: /ˈsɜːrvɪkəl ˈkænsər/) is a type of cancer that occurs in the cells of the cervix — the lower part of the uterus that connects to the vagina.
Etymology
The term "cervical" originates from the Latin word "cervix" which means "neck", referring to the neck of the uterus. "Cancer" comes from the Latin "cancer" meaning "crab", due to the crab-like spread of the disease.
Causes
Various strains of the human papillomavirus (HPV), a sexually transmitted infection, play a role in causing most cervical cancer. When exposed to HPV, the body's immune system typically prevents the virus from doing harm. In a small group of women, however, the virus survives for years, contributing to the process that causes some cells on the surface of the cervix to become cancer cells.
Symptoms
Early-stage cervical cancer generally produces no signs or symptoms. Advanced cervical cancer may cause bleeding or discharge from the vagina that is not normal for the individual, such as bleeding after sex. If the cancer spreads to nearby tissues, it may cause pain in the lower belly or during sex, and may cause swelling in one leg.
Diagnosis
Cervical cancer can often be found early, and sometimes even prevented entirely, by having regular Pap tests. If detected early, cervical cancer is one of the most successfully treatable cancers.
Treatment
Treatment for cervical cancer depends on several factors, such as the stage of the cancer, other health problems you may have and your preferences. Surgery, radiation, chemotherapy or a combination of the three may be used.
Related Terms
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Cervical Cancer
- Wikipedia's article - Cervical Cancer
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