Are You at Risk for Cervical Cancer?

Cervical cancer is a type of cancer that affects women, with approximately 12,200 
women being diagnosed in 2010. However, the rate of fatality from cervical cancer has 
dropped dramatically, thanks to regular exams and pap smears. 

Understanding what puts you at risk and the signs of cervical cancer, in addition to 
regular pap smears, is the best way to prevent it from progressing. Here are some 
things to understand about this type of cancer.


What is Cervical Cancer?

All cancers are the same in that they begin when cells in a certain part of your body 
grow more rapidly or out of control. With cervical cancer, the cancer starts in your 
cervix, but has the ability to spread quickly to other parts of your body. This is a 
common type of cancer, but it is also preventable thanks to vaccines and important 
screening tests.

When you get your pap smear every year or so, your doctor is testing you for cancer at 
the same time. This allows them to catch it early or know if you have HPV, which can 
lead to cancer in some cases.


Types of Cervical Cancer

Cervical cancer comes in two primary forms – squamous cell carcinoma and 
adenocarcinoma. These are two different type of cells, with typically just one type of cell 
being involved in the cancer, but in some cases, both can exist.

With squamous cell carcinoma, the cancer begins in the cells that line the outer section 
of the cervix. This is the more common type, and what doctors see in most cervical 
cancer cases. There is also adenocarcinoma, much less common, but begins in the 
cervical canal.


Who is at Risk?

While any woman with a cervix can get cervical cancer, some women are at a higher 
risk. If any of these apply to you, make sure you are getting regular visits with your 
doctor for a pap smear or other screenings. 

You have HPV or other STIs – HPV greatly increases your risk for cervical cancer, so 
anyone with this infection needs to have pap smears at least once a year. If you have 
other sexually transmitted infections, those increase your risk for HPV as well.

You have multiple sex partners – Having multiple sex partners increases your risk for 
HPV and other STIs.

You have a weakened immune system – Anyone with a weakened immune system is 
at a higher risk for cervical cancer and other types of cancers.

You are a smoker – Smoking cigarettes can increase your risk for developing 
squamous cell carcinoma-related cervical cancer.


Are There Any Symptoms?

Cervical cancer doesn’t have many symptoms, though there are a few things you might 
notice. For one thing, if you have irregular menstrual periods or cycles, bleeding 
between periods, or cramping that seems much more severe than it used to be, that 
could potentially be a symptom. Some women also experience symptoms like nausea, 
weight loss, or fatigue, without any other causes of these occurrences.


What About Treatments?

The available treatment for this type of cancer will depend on how far it has progressed, 
and if it is affecting any of your other reproductive organs. But generally speaking, 
treatments might include surgery to remove tumors from your cervix, chemotherapy, or 
radiation therapy. Getting a hysterectomy to remove your cervix and other reproductive 
organs is often recommended as well.

