Cervical cancer develops in a woman's cervix, the tissue connecting the uterus and vagina. Nearly 250,000 women currently live with cervical cancer in the US, while over 12,000 will be newly diagnosed and around 4,000 will die from it each year. The main cause is human papillomavirus (HPV), a common sexually transmitted infection. Regular Pap smear tests can detect abnormal cervical cells before they become cancerous. Getting the HPV vaccine and using condoms can help reduce the risk of HPV infection and subsequent cervical cancer.

1. What is cervical cancer?
Brochure created by:
Irma Corona
http://thekeyawareness.blogspot.com
Cervical cancer is a tumor
that develops within a
woman’s cervix, which is
the tissue that connects the
uterus and vagina.
How many people have
cervical cancer?
 249,632 women are
currently living with
cervical cancer (SEER, 2011)
 In 2014, another 12,360
will be newly diagnosed
(ACS, 2013)
 4,020 will die from
cervical cancer (ACS, 2013)

2. Who is at risk of getting
cervical cancer?
Any female who is sexually
active.
The cause of cervical
cancer
The main cause of cervical
cancer is the human
papilloma virus (HPV).
HPV is a sexually transmitted
disease that both males and
females can contract.
50% of people will get HPV at
some point in their lifetime
(CDC, 2012)
A person with HPV may have
genital warts, but may show
no symptoms
How can a woman reduce her
risks of getting HPV and
cervical cancer?
 Use condoms
 HPV vaccine: Gardasil or
Cervarix.
How is cervical cancer
detected?
A Pap smear can detect
abnormal cells in a woman’s
cervix that are cancer or have
the potential of becoming
cancer.
A test is also available
determine if a woman is
carrying the HPV virus. It is
performed just like a Pap smear
except the cells of the cervix
acquired are tested specifically
for the HPV virus.
Signs of Cervical Cancer
 Early stage cervical cancer has
no symptoms
 Bleeding or abnormal vaginal
discharge are signs of
advanced cervical cancer
Additional Resources
American Cancer Society: cancer.org
National Cervical Cancer Coalition:
nccc-online.org
References:
American Cancer Society. (2013). Cancer facts
& figures. Retrieved from
http://www.cancer.org
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
(2012). Cervical cancer. Retrieved
from www.cdc.gov
Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results
Program. (2011). SEER stat fact
sheets: Cervix uterine cancer. Retrieved
from http://seer.cancer.gov