Cervical Cancer

What is cervical cancer?

Cervical cancer begins in the cervix which is the lower portion of a woman's uterus connected to her vagina. Cancerous cells on the cervix's surface are where the majority of cervical cancers start. Women can develop cancer between the ages of 20 and 65 years old.

In the past, women's deaths from cervical cancer were among the most common. However, since screening tests became readily accessible, things have changed. The HPV vaccine has also helped decrease the number of patients over the years.

What are the symptoms of cervical cancer?

Because cervical cancer typically doesn't present symptoms until later stages, many women with the disease are unaware of their condition when it first arises. When symptoms do emerge, they might easily be confused with common diseases like menstruation and urinary tract infections (UTIs).

Typical cervical cancer symptoms are:

Unusual bleeding, such as between cycles, after sex, or after menopause
Vaginal discharge that appears or smells different
Pelvic pain that makes urinating painful

Preventing Cervical Cancer

100 years ago, cervical cancer was the second most common cancer in women, but now it’s not even in the top 10 cancers of women in the United States. “With the advances we’ve had for cervical cancer, screening, and prevention, it should be eradicated,” said OB/GYN Dr. Rachel Wykes.

Independent Gynecologic Oncologist Dr. Fadi Abu Shahin said we’ve developed the most successful screening test for cancer ever invented. “It’s the Pap smear. It’s a cheap, easy, noninvasive test that allows us to identify pre-cancerous changes years before they turn into cancer. If you find those pre-cancerous changes and treat them you prevent cancer.”

Cervical cancer is caused by the HPV Virus. “This is a disease that is transmitted by touch. Your children will it some point touch another human,” said Dr. Wykes. The HPV vaccine was developed in 2006. “We know all cervical cancer is caused by HPV. But not all HPV causes cervical cancer. We’ve really narrowed down those high-risk strains and created a vaccine to prevent them.”

The CDC recommends HPV vaccination for boys and girls starting at age 9. Dr. Wykes said it’s been proven effective. “Australia is a great case study where they made the HPV vaccine universal, and they’ve essentially eradicated cervical cancer. This happened because the Prime Minister’s wife got cervical cancer and it got everyone’s attention.”

Cervical cancer is still a major problem worldwide, but with preventative measures, it can be eliminated. Speak with your doctor about the HPV vaccine if you or loved ones aren’t already vaccinated.

How often should I get a cervical cancer screening?

Women should be screened every three years with a Pap test and every five years with HPV testing. Women with certain risk factors may need more frequent screening. Talk with your doctor about a cervical cancer screening if you suspect symptoms.

What are the risk factors?

The CDC has reported almost all cervical cancers are caused by the HPV virus. It is important to note that not every HPV infection is destined to become cervical cancer. It is transmitted from sex and usually does not show symptoms. For some women, the virus will go aware before developing into cervical cancer.

Having some of these risk factors does not equate to having cervical cancer. The risk factors for cervical cancer include:

HPV
Family history of cervical cancer
Multiple sexual partners
Having three or more pregnancies
Obesity

Screening for Cervical and Breast Cancer

Whether it’s cervical cancer or breast cancer—health experts say early detection is key to survival. “It’s important that the earlier we find any abnormalities, the quicker we can treat and resolve any issues that there might be,” said Mandi Wade, a certified nurse-midwife with Lee Health.

Women should be screened for cervical cancer every three years starting at 21. “HPV has been found in 99.7 percent of cervical cancers and it’s been shown to help prevent HPV from spreading,” said Wade.

Breast cancer screening starts at age 40 with yearly mammograms. “There are times where we would screen earlier or more often and it depends on your medical history, surgical history, pap smear history, and family history. If there is a history of someone in your immediate family who had been diagnosed with breast cancer at an earlier age than we would normally expect, that would include you to start getting screening with mammograms earlier,” she said.

Screenings can help detect abnormal cells before they develop into cancer. “The problem with cervical and breast cancers is a lot of the times when symptoms develop, it is at a later stage,” Wade said.

Cervical cancer is the third most common cancer in women—and breast cancer is the most common cancer for women, making it important to know your body, family history, and schedule routine screenings.

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Cancer Treatment Centers in Fort Myers and Estero

The Lee Health Cancer Institute extends its support to patients across Florida, providing a wide range of comprehensive treatment options. Our team of highly skilled medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, and surgical oncologists is dedicated to delivering exceptional care.

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Cervical Cancer Care Support Services

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