Cervical cancer is a type of cancer that primarily occurs in the uterine cervix of women. This cancer occurs when the cells of the cervix grow abnormally. Cervix is the lowest part of the uterine cavity which connects to the vagina. If not diagnosed early, the condition of cervical cancer can also invade other tissues of the bladder, vagina, lungs, liver, and rectum.

By its nature, cervical cancer is a slow-growing disease. Hence, early detection is key for successful treatment. In most of the cases, pre-cancerous changes are usually diagnosed in the cervix between the ages of 20 and 30 among women. But, cervical cancer itself usually gets detected during the mid-50s. Thus, as a disease, this cancer is preventable with correct diagnosis and adequate treatment plans.

Symptoms of cervical cancer
In the initial stages, cervical cancer may not show any signs. However, during the advanced stages, it will show the below-listed symptoms.

• The patient will experience vaginal bleeding between periods, after intercourse, or after menopause. Especially, abnormal bleeding might occur during menopause.
• The patient will have watery and bloody vaginal discharge. Sometimes, such discharge can be heavy and accompanied by a foul smell.
• Patients can experience pain during intercourse or pelvic pain.
• In certain cases, the vaginal bleeding can be associated with weakness and a light-headed feeling
• Further, during critical stages, patients of cervical cancer may also experience kidney failure, bowel obstructions, or urinary tract problems.

Causes of cervical cancer
Cervical cancer typically starts with the mutations of healthy cells into abnormal cells. In the process of mutation, the healthy cells multiply and grow at such a rate that they become uncontrollable. The lifetime of such cells can become really long and can lead to the growth of tumors within the cervix. Such cells can also invade the nearby tissues and spread in other parts of the body.

Medical science has not clarified the exact cause of cervical cancer yet. Even though, it is believed that the human papillomavirus (HPV) is primarily responsible for cervical cancer.

Risk factors for cervical cancer
The risk factors associated with cervical cancer are:

• HPV infection – The most important risk factor associated with cervical cancer is infection with HPV. Sexual activity with someone with HPV is the most common way in which someone gets HPV.
• Immune system deficiency – Women with lowered immune systems have a greater risk of suffering from cervical cancer. A lowered immune system can be caused because of immune suppression from corticosteroids, from human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), which is the virus that causes acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), organ transplantation, or treatments for other types of cancer.
• Herpes – Women suffering from genital herpes are at a greater risk of suffering from cervical cancer.
• Smoking – Women who are smokers are about twice as likely to develop cervical cancer as women who are non-smokers.
• Age – Women in their teens and mid-30s are more likely to suffer from cervical cancer than girls below the age of 15. Women over 40 remain at risk and need to continue having regular cervical cancer screenings, which includes both the PAP test and the HPV test.
• Socioeconomic factors – Cervical cancer is common among women who are less likely to have access to screening for cervical cancer. These women include black women, American Indian women, and Hispanic women.
• Oral contraceptives – Some research studies suggest that the use of birth control pills may be associated with an increased risk of cervical cancer.
• Exposure to diethylstilbestrol (DES) – Women whose mothers were given diethylstilbestrol (DES) during pregnancy to prevent miscarriage have an increased risk of developing a rare type of cancer of the cervix or the vagina.

The risks of cervical cancer can be reduced with periodic screening, HPV protection vaccine, safer sexual intercourse, and by quitting smoking. Moreover, like all other types of cancer, an early diagnosis can help in the successful treatment of cervical cancer and ensure a quicker recovery. If one notices any of the symptoms mentioned above, it is advisable to consult an oncologist at the earliest.