This page was reviewed under our medical and editorial policy by Maurie Markman, MD, President, Medicine & Science
This page was updated on July 20, 2022.
Cervical cancer is the fourth-most common cancer in women worldwide. With improved screening methods, the number of women with cervical cancer has decreased dramatically through the years. However, the American Cancer Society estimates 13,960 new cases of cervical cancer will be diagnosed in the United States in 2023.
Our City of Hope hospitals in Atlanta, Chicago and Phoenix has a Gynecologic Cancer Center, focusing on treating women with cancer of the reproductive organs. Our gynecologic oncologists are trained and experienced in treating all stages of cervical cancer, from diagnosis to survivorship. They will lead your multidisciplinary care team, managing aspects of your treatment, from performing tumor-removal surgery to administering chemotherapy, immunotherapy and/or hormone therapy.
Your care team will also tailor your treatment plan based on your individual needs, and help you manage cervical cancer-related side effects, like pain, nausea and malnutrition.
This overview will cover the basic facts about cervical cancer, including:
If you believe you may be experiencing symptoms of cervical cancer and want to schedule an appointment for diagnostic testing, or if you’re interested in a second opinion on your cervical cancer diagnosis and treatment plan, call us or chat online with a member of our team.
Cervical cancer is uncontrolled cell growth that starts in the cervix, or the passageway that connects the bottom of the uterus to the top of the vagina. It allows sperm to travel to the uterus and menstrual fluid to flow out. It also dilates during labor so the baby may pass through the birth canal.
The cervix has two sections:
The place where these two sections of the cervix meet is called the “transformation zone”—and it’s where cancer most often starts. Precancerous cells may also develop here, which may turn into cancer. If precancerous cells are found, they may be treated to prevent cancer from forming.
Cervical cancer forms when the cells that line the cervix begin to develop abnormal changes. Over time, these mutated cells may grow out of control and form a tumor. Routine Pap screening may help detect abnormal cells in the cervix, so they’re able to be treated. Most women are advised to get a Pap test starting at age 21.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that more than 90 percent of all cervical cancers are caused by a human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. Not every woman who has HPV will develop a cervical tumor, though treatment with the HPV vaccine is known to help prevent cancer of the cervix.
Unlike most other cancers, cervical cancer is often diagnosed in young to middle-aged women. According to the National Cancer Institute (NCI):
Women are more likely to develop cervical cancer if they:
"The care I received at City of Hope still amazes me. I felt genuine concern and empathy. If I was having a meltdown moment, someone was there to hand me a tissue. No one made me feel silly about the questions I had, and my questions were answered. At City of Hope, I felt like my doctor cared, and that he takes the time to care. I don’t see him or the members of my care team checking their watches during an appointment with me. That alone is extraordinary to me."
Most women don’t notice symptoms in the early stages of cervical cancer, which makes early diagnosis challenging.
In later stages of cervical cancer, symptoms may include:
The two main types of cervical cancer are:
Squamous cell carcinoma, accounting for about 90 percent of all cases
Adenocarcinoma of the cervix, developing in gland cells. Cervical adenocarcinoma is somewhat rare, but it has become more common in recent decades.
Some cervical tumors may involve both squamous cells and glandular cells.
The Pap smear—also known as a Pap test—is used to diagnose cervical cancer. During a Pap smear, the doctor takes a sample of cells from the cervix with a small brush or swab. Then the sample is sent to a lab to be examined for any signs of cancer or precancer.
Physical exams may also help detect abnormalities. The doctor may use a speculum to look inside the vagina and check the ovaries and uterus by inserting two fingers while pressing down on the abdomen with the other hand.
If a Pap smear shows cell changes, additional tests may be recommended. These may include:
If a patient is diagnosed with cervical cancer after the biopsy results, doctors may recommend additional tests to determine the stage of cancer. These tests may include a computed tomography (CT) scan, positron emission tomography (PET) scan, X-ray, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)—or a combination of these. An exam of the rectum or bladder may also be performed.
Our gynecologic oncologists work with cervical cancer patients to design a treatment plan tailored to their specific diagnosis and needs. Treatment options for cancer of the cervix include:
Clinical trials help doctors find new treatments and improve current treatments. Patients should ask their cancer care team for help finding and evaluating trials, to see whether one is the right approach. Information on current cervical cancer trials is available through the NCI database.
We recognize that cancers of the female reproductive system affect women in unique ways. That’s why we created the Women’s Cancer Center at our hospitals, located around the country. At these specially designed centers, our multidisciplinary team of doctors and clinicians are singularly focused on screening, diagnosing and treating breast cancer and gynecologic cancers with a sense of urgency. Our supportive care services are designed to help address symptoms and side effects, to help you have the strength and stamina to continue your treatment and the quality of life to help you continue everyday activities throughout your cancer journey.
Within each Women’s Cancer Center, we offer patients with cervical and other gynecologic patients even more specialized care at our Gynecologic Cancer Centers, where our care teams treat each patient’s specific cancer using standard-of-care and, when appropriate, innovative precision medicine treatments, all under one roof. We also offer evidence-informed supportive care services designed to help patients manage cancer-related symptoms and side effects.
Your care team will oversee the many aspects of your cancer diagnosis and treatment, including reviewing your medical records and history, performing a pelvic exam and lab tests when necessary, and ordering diagnostic procedures to help determine a treatment plan.
Treatments for cervical cancer often cause a number of side effects that may impact patients’ quality of life, including pain, nausea and malnutrition. Our cancer experts understand that managing these side effects is important to our recovery and quality of life. Each patient has access to a team of supportive care clinicians to help manage disease-related side effects before, during and after treatment.
Supportive care therapies that may be recommended to help patients with cervical cancer stay strong and maintain their quality of life include:
