Info
Cervical cancer
Basics
What it means
Cancer that starts in the cells of the cervix, caused almost always by persistent infection with high-risk strains of HPV. It is one of the few cancers that can be prevented through vaccination and detected early through the Pap test.
Related terms
The terms below often appear alongside this one. Each definition is right here, so you do not have to look elsewhere.
- HPV and cancer
- Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection and the main cause of cervical cancer, and it is also involved in other cancers (oropharynx, anus, vulva). The HPV vaccine, ideally given before the start of sexual activity, prevents infection with the high-risk strains.
- Adenocarcinoma
- A subtype of carcinoma that arises in glandular cells, that is, cells that produce or secrete certain substances. It can appear in organs such as the lung, colon, pancreas or prostate.
- Benign tumor
- A growth that does not invade the surrounding tissues and does not produce metastases. Although it may sometimes need treatment or monitoring, a benign tumor is not considered cancer.
Other terms in “Basics”
Glossary definitions are written for patients by the OncoDots team and go through internal medical review. They explain terms; they do not establish a diagnosis and do not recommend a treatment.