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Cervical Cancer

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Cancer happens when cells in the body change and grow out of control. These cells can form lumps called tumors. Cancer that starts in cells of the cervix is called cervical cancer. The cervix is the lower end of the uterus. It connects the uterus to the vagina.

Cervical cancer can spread from the cervix to other parts of the body. This spread is called metastasis. The more cancer spreads, the harder it is to treat.

Types of cervical cancer

When cells in the cervix start to change and grow in ways that are not normal, it’s called dysplasia. Dysplasia is not cancer, but it can become cancer if not treated.

There are 3 kinds of cervical cancer:

  • Squamous cell carcinoma. This starts in the thin, flat cells on the surface of the cervix. It’s by far the most common kind of cervical cancer.
  • Adenocarcinoma. This starts in gland cells of the cervix.
  • Mixed carcinomaor adenosquamous carcinoma. This is cancer that’s made up of both of the types listed above.

For more information on this topic, visit our Health Library.