Cervical cancer
What is cervical cancer?
Cervical cancer starts in the cells of the cervix. The most common type is squamous cell carcinoma.
Risk factors for cervical cancer
Infection with human papillomavirus (HPV) is the main risk for cervical cancer.
Screening for cervical cancer
Population-based screening in Canada
Symptoms of cervical cancer
Common signs and symptoms of cervical cancer include abnormal vaginal bleeding and pain during sex.
Diagnosis of cervical cancer
Cervical cancer can be diagnosed or ruled out by tests such as a colposcopy and different types of biopsies.
Grading cervical cancer
Grading describes how cancer cells look compared to healthy cells. Cervical cancer is described as low grade or high grade.
Stages of cervical cancer
The stage describes how much cancer is in the body. The most common staging system for cervical cancer is the FIGO system.
If cervical cancer spreads
Cervical cancer can spread (metastasize) to the vagina, uterus and pelvic lymph nodes.
Prognosis and survival for cervical cancer
Prognosis estimates the outcome for cervical cancer. It depends on many factors including tumour size and the stage of the cancer.
Treatments for cervical cancer
Treatments for cervical cancer include surgery, radiation therapy, chemoradiation, targeted therapy and immunotherapy.
Supportive care for cervical cancer
Supportive care for cervical cancer helps you meet physical, emotional and spiritual challenges.
Cervical cancer statistics
Cancer statistics tell us how many people in Canada are diagnosed with and die from cervical cancer in a certain time frame.
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