What Is Cervical Cancer?

Cervical cancer is a malignancy of the cervix. It is the second most common cancer in women worldwide and some symptoms often include vaginal bleeding and metastases may be present in the lungs and the abdomen. However, a lot of the time the symptoms do not show in the early stages of the cancer.

Smear tests are used to detect this cancer early which is why your doctor will tell you the importance of having smear tests. If treated early, cervical cancer may not always affect fertility. However, in later stages it can drastically affect the woman's fertility and they may never be able to have children in certain cases.

Surgery cures the early stages of the cancer but in later stages chemotherapy and radiotherapy will be needed. Most cases of cervical cancer show that the HPV infection is responsible for the cancer which is usually passed on through sexual intercourse.