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What is Cervical Cancer?
Cervical cancer is cancer that forms in the cells of the cervix. The cervix is the lower, narrower section of the uterus that attaches the upper part of the uterus to the vagina. The cervix makes mucus that helps sperm find its way into the uterus during sex, and closes tightly during pregnancy to keep the baby in the uterus and then dilates during delivery. Cervical cancer usually develops very slowly over years and first presents as precancerous changes known as dysplasia. These precancerous changes are almost always caused by infection with the HPV virus and can now be detected with Pap tests and/or HPV testing and removed in the doctor’s office. With these tests doctors can often detect and treat these changes early, preventing the development of cervical cancer.
Types of Cervical Cancer
There are a few major types of cervical cancer, named for the cells in which they begin:
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Squamous cell carcinoma
Squamous cell carcinomas form in the squamous cells that line the surface of the exocervix (the outer portion of the cervix which is next to the vagina), and account for about 80% to 85% of cervical cancer cases.
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Adenocarcinoma
Adenocarcinomas form in the gland cells of the endocervix (the inner portion of the cervix which is next to the uterus) that produce cervical mucus. Adenocarcinomas account for 10% to 15% of cervical cancers.
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Adenosquamous (mixed) carcinoma
Adenosquamous carcinomas are a rare form of cervical cancer that resemble both squamous cell carcinomas and adenocarcinomas.
Other rare types of cervical cancer include neuroendocrine (small cell/large cell), melanoma, clear cell, and serous types. These account for less than 1% of all cervical cancers.
