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In June of 2006, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a cervical cancer vaccine for girls and women between the ages of 9 and 26. This vaccine (Gardasil) has been shown to protect against the human papillomavirus (HPV).

According to the American Cancer Society Cancer Facts & Figures 2007,
cervical cancer is the 3rd common type
of gynecologic cancer .
In the United States, approximately 11,150 (2006 estimated cases 9,710) cases
will be diagnosed this year and nearly 3,670 (2006 estimated cases 3,700 women die from the disease this year.
Causes and Risk Factors

The cause of cervical cancer is unknown. Infection with two types of human papillomavirus (HPV), which is transmitted sexually, is strongly associated with cervical and vulvar cancer and is the primary risk factor. Evidence of HPV is found in nearly 80% of cervical cancer patients. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection reduces the immune system's ability to fight infection (including HPV infection) and increases the likelihood that precancerous cells will progress to cancer.
Sexual activity that increases the risk for infection with HPV and HIV and for cervical cancer includes the following:

* Having multiple sexual partners or having sex with a promiscuous partner
* History of sexually transmitted disease (STD)
* Sexual intercourse at a young age

Other risk factors include the following:

* Age (more common after age 50)
* Smoking
* Race (endometrial cancer is more common in Caucasian women while uterine sarcoma is more common in African American women)

Regular screening via Pap Smears greatly reduces the risk for developing invasive cervical cancer by detecting precancerous changes in cervical cells. Women who do not receive regular Pap smears have a higher risk for the condition.
Symptoms
The early stages of cervical cancer may be completely symptom free.

Possible symptoms in early stages may include:

* Vaginal bleeding
* contact bleeding
* a vaginal mass (rare)
* moderate pain during sexual intercourse
* vaginal discharge

Symptoms of advanced cervical cancer may include:
* loss of appetite
* weight loss
* fatigue
* pelvic pain
* back pain
* leg pain
* single swollen leg
* heavy bleeding from the vagina
* leaking of urine or feces from the vagina
* bone fractures.

In advanced disease, metastases may be present in the abdomen, lungs or elsewhere.




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statistical content posted with permission from various resources.