Cervical cancer

Cancer of the cervix
Cancer care
cancer diagnosis

While it is possible to sometimes prevent cervical cancer, simply by having regular screening tests and detecting the disease early, can be a major factor in successfully treating the disease.

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How common is cervical cancer?

Below are a series of statistics on cervical cancer to indicate how common the condition is and possible figures related to its treatment.

95%
95%
95%
of cervical cancer cases are preventable.

Other types of cancer

Below you can find information on other types of cancer screenings that you might be interested in.

Bladder cancer

Cancer of the bladder

The fourth most common cancer in men and the twelfth most common cancer in women.

Breast cancer

Cancer of the breast

Cancer that forms in the cells of the breasts and can occur in both men and women, but it's far more common in women.

Cervical cancer

Cancer of the cervix

If detected early, cancer of the cervix can be one of the most successfully treatable cancers...

Colorectal cancer

Cancer of the rectum or colon

Colon cancer and rectal cancer are often grouped together because they have many features in common.

Sarcoma

Cancerous tumours of the soft tissues

A broad term for cancers that start in soft tissues like muscle, tendons, fat, lymph and blood vessels, and nerves.

Throat cancer

Cancer of the throat

A fast-growing cancer; therefore early treatment is key to having a good quality of life.

Lung Cancer

Caner of the lung

People who smoke are at a greater risk of getting lung cancer, though lung cancer can also occur in people who have never smoked.

Melanoma

A type of skin cancer

The primary known cause of melanoma, as well as all other types of skin cancer, is exposure to ultraviolet radiation contained in sunlight.

Lymphoma

Cancer of lymphocytes

Lymphoma can be divided broadly into 2 types of lymphoma: Hodgkins Lymphoma or Hodgkins Disease (HD) and Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma (NHL).

Head and neck cancers

Cancer of the head and neck

These cancers, that could include oesophageal cancer, usually begin in the cells that line the moist surfaces (mucosal membranes) inside the...

Ovarian cancer

Cancer of the ovary

Recent evidence suggests that many ovarian cancers may actually start in the cells in the far end of the fallopian...

Prostate cancer

Cancer of the prostate gland

Prostate cancer is one of the most common types of cancer in men. The lifetime risk for prostate cancer in men in South Africa, is 1 in 18.

Stomach cancer

Also known as gastric cancer

Most cancers of the stomach are adenocarcinomas. These cancers develop from the gland cells in the innermost lining of the stomach.

Thyroid cancer

Cancer of the thyroid gland

The thyroid gland makes hormones that help regulate your metabolism, heart rate, blood pressure, and body temperature.

Uterine cancer

Cancer of the uterus or womb

Most uterine cancer begins in the layer of cells that form the lining (endometrium) of the uterus.

 
 
 

Cervical cancer

Cervical cancer rarely develops in women younger than 20, and is most frequently diagnosed in women between the ages of 35 and 44 with the average age at diagnosis being 50.

What is cervical cancer?

Cervical cancer usually develops slowly over time. Before cancer appears in the cervix, the cells of the cervix go through changes known as dysplasia, in which abnormal cells begin to appear in the cervical tissue. Over time, the abnormal cells may become cancer cells and start to grow and spread more deeply into the cervix and to surrounding areas.

It’s possible to prevent cervical cancer, simply by having regular screening tests.

Symptoms

Women with early cervical cancers and pre-cancers usually have no symptoms because symptoms often do not begin until the cancer becomes larger and grows into nearby tissue. When this happens, the most common symptoms are:

Abnormal vaginal bleeding, such as bleeding after vaginal sex, bleeding after menopause, bleeding and spotting between periods, or having (menstrual) periods that are longer or heavier than usual.

Pain during sex

An unusual discharge from the vagina − the discharge may contain some blood.

Pain in the pelvic region


Causes

Cervical cancer usually develops slowly over time. Before cancer appears in the cervix, the cells of the cervix go through changes known as dysplasia, in which abnormal cells begin to appear in the cervical tissue. Over time, the abnormal cells may become cancer cells and start to grow and spread more deeply into the cervix and to surrounding areas.

In recent years, there has been a lot of progress in understanding what happens in cells of the cervix when cancer develops. In addition, several risk factors have been identified that increase the odds that a woman might develop cervical cancer.

Cervical cancer usually develops slowly over time.

Risk factors

Anything that increases your chance of getting a disease is called a risk factor. Having a risk factor does not mean that you will get cancer; not having risk factors doesn't mean that you will not get cancer. Talk to your doctor if you think you may be at risk for cervical cancer.

Risk factors for cervical cancer include the following:

  • Being infected with human papillomavirus (HPV). This is the most important risk factor for cervical cancer.
  • HPV can infect cells on the surface of the skin, and those lining the genitals, anus, mouth and throat, but not the blood or internal organs such as the heart or lungs.
  • Being exposed to the drug DES (diethylstilbestrol) while in the mother's womb.
  • Having many sexual partners, or becoming sexually active at a young age (especially younger than 18 years old).
  • Women who smoke are about twice as likely as those who don't smoke to get cervical cancer. Tobacco by-products have been found in the cervical mucus of women who smoke.
  • Another group of women at risk for cervical cancer are those taking drugs to suppress their immune response, such as those being treated for an autoimmune disease.
  • Some studies have seen a higher risk of cervical cancer in women whose blood tests and cervical mucus showed evidence of past or current chlamydia infection.
  • Research suggests that the risk of cervical cancer goes up the longer a woman takes oral contraceptives, but the risk goes back down again after the oral contraceptives are stopped, and returns to normal many years after stopping.
  • Women who have had 3 or more full-term pregnancies have an increased risk of developing cervical cancer. It is thought this is probably due to the increased exposure to HPV infection with sexual activity.
  • Also, studies have pointed to hormonal changes during pregnancy as possibly making women more susceptible to HPV infection or cancer growth.
  • Many low-income women do not have easy access to adequate health care services, including cervical cancer screening with Pap tests and HPV tests.
  • Women whose diets don’t include enough fruits and vegetables may be at increased risk for cervical cancer.
  • Cervical cancer may run in some families. If your mother or sister had cervical cancer, your chances of developing the disease are higher than if no one in the family had it.
Cervical cancer usually develops slowly over time

Being infected with human papillomavirus (HPV). This is the most important risk factor for cervical cancer.

Find care for cervical cancer?

Find healthcare providers and facilities that specialise in treating cervical cancer.

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