Awareness: January Is Cervical Cancer Awareness Month

cervical ribbon

What is cervical cancer?

The cervix is the lower part of the uterus (womb). Most cervical cancers begin in the cells lining the cervix. These cells do not suddenly change into cancer. Instead, the normal cells of the cervix gradually develop pre-cancerous changes that turn into cancer. Cervical cancers and cervical pre-cancers are classified by how they look under a microscope. There are 2 main types of cervical cancer: squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma. About 80% to 90% of cervical cancers are squamous cell carcinomas. These cancers start in the squamous cells that cover the surface of the exocervix. Under the microscope, this type of cancer is made up of cells that are like squamous cells.

Most of the remaining cervical cancers are adenocarcinomas. Cervical adenocarcinomas seem to have become more common in the last 20 to 30 years. Cervical adenocarcinoma develops from the mucus-producing gland cells of the endocervix. Less commonly, cervical cancers have features of both squamous cell carcinomas and adenocarcinomas. These are called adenosquamous carcinomas or mixed carcinomas.

Although cervical cancers start from cells with pre-cancerous changes (pre-cancers), only some women with pre-cancers of the cervix will develop cancer. The change from pre-cancer to cancer usually takes several years -- but it can happen in less than a year. For most women, pre-cancerous cells will remain unchanged and go away without any treatment. Still, in some women pre-cancers turn into true (invasive) cancers.

What are the signs and symptoms of cervical cancer?


  • An unusual discharge from the vagina -- the discharge may contain some blood and may occur between your periods or after menopause.
  • Pain during sex (vaginal intercourse).


Even better, don't wait for symptoms to appear. Have a regular Pap test and pelvic exam.

Please visit the American Cancer Society web site for more signs and symptoms as well as treatment options for cervical cancer.

What are the risk factors of cervical cancer?

Human papilloma virus infection: The most important risk factor for cervical cancer is infection by the human papilloma virus (HPV).


Immunosuppression: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the virus that causes AIDS, damages the body's immune system and places women at higher risk for HPV infection.

Chlamydia Infection: Chlamydia is a relatively common kind of bacteria that can infect the reproductive system. It is spread by sexual contact.



Multiple full-term pregnancies: Women who have had 3 or more full-term pregnancies have an increased risk of developing cervical cancer.

Young age for first full-term pregnancy: Women who were younger than 17 years when they had their first full-term pregnancy are almost 2 times more likely to get cervical cancer later in life than women who waited to get pregnant until they were 25 years or older.

Poverty: Poverty is also a risk factor for cervical cancer.


Family history: Cervical cancer may run in some families. If a woman’s mother or sister had cervical cancer, her chances of developing the disease are 2 to 3 times higher than if no one in the family had it.

See the American Cancer Society's web page for more details on the risk factors for cervical cancer.

How is cervical cancer diagnosed?


Cancer of the cervix may be prevented or detected early by regular Pap tests. If it is detected early, cervical cancer is one of the most successfully treatable cancers. In the United States, the cervical cancer death rate declined by almost 70% between 1955 and 1992, in large part due to the effectiveness of Pap smear screening. The death rate continues to decline each year.

Despite the recognized benefits of Pap test screening, not all American women take advantage of it. As of the year 2000, slightly over 80% of women had had a Pap test in the previous 3 years. Asian-American women, recent immigrants, women without health insurance, and women with fewer years of education were less likely to have had regular Pap tests.

Between 60% and 80% of American women with newly diagnosed invasive cervical cancer have not had a Pap smear in the past 5 years. Many of these women have never had a Pap test.

Cervical cancer deaths are higher in populations around the world where women do not have routine Pap tests. In fact, cervical cancer is the major cause of cancer deaths in women in many developing countries. These women are usually diagnosed with an invasive late stage, rather than as pre-cancers or early cancers.

Visit the American Cancer Society for more information on cervical cancer.

What we're doing at the Purdue University Center for Cancer Research

What you can do to support our research: Women's Cancer Research Fund


  • Purdue University Center for Cancer Research
    Hansen Life Sciences Research Building
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