Cervix Cancer

Cancer is a disease where cells divide and grow at an abnormally fast rate. Cancer of the cervix, or cervical cancer, is a form of cancer that affects a woman's cervix. The cervix is the entrance of the uterus found at the top of the vagina, inside a woman's body. Cervical cancer is most often caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV), a sexually transmitted infection. Cervical cancer occurs most often in women who are 30 or over.

Size

• The American Cancer Society estimates that about 11,000 women each year get cervical cancer. Approximately 3,900 women die each year from cervical cancer.

Treatment

• Treatment of cervical cancer is similar to treatment of other forms of cancer including surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy.

Pap Test

• A pap test is used to find irregular cells on the cervix. These cells can lead to cancer if untreated; treatment of precancerous cells has led to the decrease in the rates of cervical cancer in the U.S. over the last 50 years.

Prevention

• In order to reduce your risk for cervical cancer, you should have regular pap tests as recommended by your doctor. You can also reduce your risk for contracting HPV by reducing your number of sexual partners, using latex or polyurethane condoms every time you have sex, only having sex with a mutually monogamous partner who does not have HPV, or abstaining from sexual activity.

Vaccine

• There is currently a vaccine available for women ages 9 to 12 that prevents against HPV strains 16 and 18. These strains account for approximately 70 percent of cervical cancer cases.