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Cervical Cancer
What is cervical cancer?
Cervical cancer is a common kind of cancer found in women due to the cancer being found in the cells of the cervix. The cervix is the lower part of the uterus (womb) that connects to the vagina (birth canal). Cervical cancer begins when healthy cells develop changes (mutations) in their DNA. These mutations tell the cells to grow and multiply out of control and they don’t die. The abnormal cells begin to form a mass (tumor). When cells that are not normal begin to appear, this is called dysplasia.
According to the Illinois State Cancer Registry, in 2021, 482 new cases of cervical cancer were diagnosed in Illinois. In 2021, 169 Illinoisans died from cervical cancer.
What are the symptoms of cervical cancer?
Since early-stage cervical cancer produces no signs, be sure your doctor does an important test, called the Pap smear, to look for it. The Pap smear is done by using a piece of cotton, a brush, or a small wooden stick to gently scrape the outside of the cervix to pick up some cells that can be examined under a microscope.
Some women may qualify for low- or no-cost Pap smears through the Illinois Breast and Cervical Cancer Program. For more information, contact the Illinois Department of Public Health, Office of Women’s Health, at 1-888-522-1282.
Are there risk factors for developing cervical cancer?
According to the National Cancer Institute, strong risk factors include early age at first intercourse, a history of multiple sexual partners, genital human papillomavirus infection or another sexually transmitted disease (STD), the presence of other genital tract cancers, and prior squamous intraepithelial lesion (abnormal cells). Women 60 years of age and older are at greater risk for cervical cancer since they are less willing or able to seek medical care for screening or treating cervical cancer. Other risk factors include active or passive ("secondhand") smoking, poor nutrition, and a current or past sexual partner with risk factors for STD, immunodeficiency, or testing positive for HIV.
How is cervical cancer treated?
Treatments for cancer of the cervix depend on the stage of the disease, the size of the tumor, age, overall physical condition, and a woman’s desire to have children. There are three kinds of treatment for women with cancer of the cervix: surgery (removing the cancer in an operation), radiation therapy (using high-dose X-rays or other high-energy rays to kill cancer cells), and chemotherapy (using drugs to kill cancer cells).
