Cervical Cancer

Disclaimer:
This blog is for informational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice. Content is sourced from third parties, and we do not guarantee accuracy or accept any liability for its use. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical guidance.

What is Cervical Cancer?

Cervical cancer originates in the cervix, the lower part of the uterus connecting to the vagina, primarily from squamous cells lining the outer cervix or glandular cells in the endocervix. It’s mainly caused by persistent HPV infection, with types 16/18 responsible for 70% of cases. Stages range from 0 (carcinoma in situ) to IV (distant metastases). In 2025, it’s the fourth most common cancer in women globally, with ~13,360 US cases and 4,320 deaths, declining due to vaccination and screening.

Symptoms

Early cervical cancer is often asymptomatic, detected via screening. Advanced symptoms include abnormal vaginal bleeding (post-coital, intermenstrual, postmenopausal), unusual vaginal discharge (watery, bloody, foul-smelling), pelvic pain, pain during intercourse, and lower back pain. Metastatic disease causes leg swelling, urinary/bowel issues, fatigue, or weight loss. Symptoms may mimic infections or menstrual irregularities.

Causes

Persistent high-risk HPV infection (types 16, 18) is the primary cause (99% of cases), with cofactors like smoking (doubles risk), immunosuppression (HIV, transplants), multiple sexual partners, early sexual debut, long-term oral contraceptive use, and low socioeconomic status (limited screening access). Genetic factors (e.g., HLA alleles) influence susceptibility. In 2025, HPV vaccination (Gardasil 9) prevents 90% of cases in vaccinated populations.

Diagnosis

Screening uses Pap smears (cytology) and HPV testing (co-testing for ages 30-65), with abnormal results leading to colposcopy and biopsy. Diagnostic confirmation involves cervical biopsy, endocervical curettage, or cone biopsy for histology. Imaging (MRI, CT, PET) stages disease, with cystoscopy/rectoscopy for local invasion. In 2025, AI-enhanced colposcopy and liquid-based cytology improve detection rates by 20%.

Treatment

Early-stage (I-IIA) treatment includes surgery (hysterectomy, trachelectomy for fertility preservation) or radiation with chemotherapy (cisplatin). Advanced (IIB-IV) uses chemoradiation, with immunotherapy (pembrolizumab for PD-L1+) added for recurrent cases. Brachytherapy targets the cervix precisely. In 2025, HPV-targeted therapies and minimally invasive surgery reduce side effects.

Future Outlook

In 2025, 5-year survival is 92% for localized, 58% for regional, and 18% for distant disease. Vaccination and screening have reduced incidence by 80% in high-coverage areas. Research on therapeutic vaccines and AI screening promises further declines, with survival potentially reaching 95% for early-stage by 2030 through precision immunotherapy.

Sources

The information for cervical cancer is drawn from Cleveland Clinic’s “Cervical Cancer: Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis & Treatment” for symptoms and treatment; Mayo Clinic’s “Cervical cancer: Symptoms and causes” for symptoms and causes; WHO’s “Cervical cancer” for global outlook; Everyday Health’s “What Is Cervical Cancer? Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment” for comprehensive overview; PMC’s “Cervical cancer therapies: Current challenges and future perspectives” for treatment challenges; OncoDaily’s “Cervical Cancer: Symptoms, Causes, Stages, Diagnosis and Treatment” for stages; UCI Health’s “Examining the latest in cervical cancer care” for 2025 statistics; Regional Cancer Care’s “Advances in Cervical Cancer Treatment and Prevention” for prevention; Mayo Clinic’s “Cervical cancer – Diagnosis and treatment” for diagnostic methods; and Managed Healthcare Executive’s “Cervical Cancer: The Deadly, Preventable Disease” for incidence data.