{"id":249475,"date":"2025-09-10T13:08:15","date_gmt":"2025-09-10T13:08:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pharmeasy.in\/blog\/?p=249475"},"modified":"2026-04-01T08:24:14","modified_gmt":"2026-04-01T08:24:14","slug":"cancer-care-cervical-cancer-what-is-it-symptoms-causes-treatment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pharmeasy.in\/blog\/cancer-care-cervical-cancer-what-is-it-symptoms-causes-treatment\/","title":{"rendered":"Cervical Cancer: What is it, Symptoms, Causes & Treatment"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n<\/head>

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Table of Contents<\/p>\nToggle<\/span>

Introduction<\/a><\/li>
Understanding the Cervix<\/a><\/li>
What is Cervical Cancer?<\/a><\/li>
HPV and Cervical Cancer<\/a><\/li>
Cervical Cancer Symptoms<\/a><\/li>
Cervical Cancer Causes<\/a><\/li>
Cervical Cancer Risk Factors<\/a><\/li>
Types of Cervical Cancer<\/a><\/li>
Cervical Cancer Stages<\/a><\/li>
Diagnosis of Cervical Cancer<\/a><\/li>
Cervical Cancer Treatment<\/a><\/li>
Side Effects of Cancer Treatment<\/a><\/li>
Complications of Cervical Cancer<\/a><\/li>
Can Cervical Cancer be Cured Completely?<\/a><\/li>
Living With Cervical Cancer<\/a><\/li>
Cervical Cancer Prevention Strategies<\/a><\/li>
When to See a Doctor?<\/a><\/li>
Conclusion<\/a><\/li>
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)<\/a><\/li>
References<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n \n <\/span>\n $\"Join$ \n <\/a>\n
<\/span>Introduction<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\nCervical cancer remains a major public health challenge, ranking as the fourth most common cancer among women worldwide ^{1<\/sup><\/a>. In India, it is the second most common cancer in women. By 2025, the burden of this cancer in India projected to reach 1.5 million Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs), a measure that combines years of life lost due to premature death and years lived with illness or disability}^{2<\/sup><\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n}
This highlights the urgent need for action. Therefore, understanding what is cervical cancer, along with adopting preventive measures, ensuring early detection, and providing effective treatment, is essential for reducing its impact on women\u2019s health.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/span>Understanding the Cervix<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
$\"\"$ <\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n
The cervix is the narrow, lower portion of the uterus (womb) that connects it to the vagina (birth canal). It allows fluids (like menstrual blood and mucus) to flow from the uterus into the vagina, and it also widens during childbirth to allow the baby to pass through ^{3<\/sup><\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n}
The cervix has two main parts ^{3<\/sup><\/a>:\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n}
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Ectocervix:<\/strong> The outer part that can be seen during a pelvic exam.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Endocervix: <\/strong>The inner part that forms a canal linking the vagina to the uterus.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
The junction\/zone where these two parts of the cervix meet is called the squamocolumnar junction (or transformation zone). This is where the thin, flat squamous cells are found, and where most abnormal cell changes and cervical cancers originate.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/span>What is Cervical Cancer?<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
$\"\"$ <\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n
Cervical cancer starts in the cells of the cervix. It usually develops slowly over time. Before cancer forms, the cells in the cervix may undergo changes (dysplasia) and abnormal cells appear in the cervical tissue ^{3<\/sup><\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n}
If these abnormal cells are not detected and treated, these abnormal changes may turn into cancer and grow deeper into the cervix or spread to nearby areas ^{3<\/sup><\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n}
<\/span>HPV and Cervical Cancer<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\nHuman papillomavirus (HPV) is the primary cause of cervical cancer. It is a common sexually transmitted infection that can affect the skin, genital area, and throat. Certain high-risk types of HPV strains (such as HPV 16 and HPV 18) are responsible for about 70% of all cervical cancer cases worldwide ^{4<\/sup><\/a>^,<\/sup>}^{5<\/sup><\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n}
These viruses can infect the cells of the cervix and cause changes in their DNA. Over time, if the infection does not clear on its own or is left undetected, these changes can lead to dysplasia, which may eventually turn into cancer ^{4<\/sup><\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n}
However, it is important to note that HPV infections are extremely common, often transient, and only persistent infections with high-risk subtypes\u202fcan lead to cancers. Presence of cofactors like smoking and poor immunity increase the progression risk.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Also Read: Human Papillomavirus (HPV): What Is It, Causes, Symptoms, and Prevention<\/a>\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/span>Cervical Cancer Symptoms<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\nIn the early cervical cancer stages, cancer often develops without any noticeable symptoms. This makes it difficult to detect early. Symptoms typically appear only after the cancer has started to spread. Possible early-stage cervical cancer symptoms may include ^{6<\/sup><\/a>:\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n}
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Pelvic pain (especially in the lower abdomen)\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Pain during sexual intercourse\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Bleeding (vaginal) between periods or unusually heavy\/extended periods\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Bleeding (vaginal) after sexual intercourse or menopause\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Watery vaginal discharge (accompanied by a strong odour or blood)\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Postcoital bleeding (bleeding after intercourse) is sometimes the first and the only sign\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
When cervical cancer becomes advanced (spreading beyond the cervix), symptoms can include those listed above, along with ^{6<\/sup><\/a>:\u00a0<\/p>}
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