Cervical cancer is a malignancy that occurs in the lower part of the womb where it is connected to the vagina. If left undetected, cervical cancer can spread to other organs, such as the bladder, intestines, lungs and liver. However, the disease is often curable if caught early. Once the number-one cause of cancer death in women, cervical cancer deaths have decreased in the United States with use of the Pap test (also called a Pap smear), which finds early changes in the cervix that are most amenable to treatment.
Today, about 11,000 women are diagnosed each year after a suspicious Pap smear. Cervical cancer is most commonly seen in women between the ages of 35 and 55.
If you have identified risk factors, dysplasia (early, abnormal changes in cervix cells) or have acquired the Human Papillomavirus (HPV), UCSD’s Gynecologic Cancer Unit offers a Pre-Invasive Cancer Program with screening, counseling and treatment to prevent cervical cancer.
Only some women with pre-cancerous changes of the cervix will actually develop cancer. For those who do, the process can take less than a year or several years. If you are diagnosed with cervical cancer, our Comprehensive Cancer Center provides the expertise of specially trained gynecologic oncologists and a team of cancer specialists who will tailor a treatment plan specific to your individual needs.
Learn More About Cervical Cancer
Request a Consultation with a UCSD Gynecologic Oncology Specialist Using our Online Form
Call our New Patient Office at (858) 822-6100, or toll-free (866) 773-2703