National Cervical Cancer Coalition - http://www.nccc-online.org/

Many factors influence the outcome of cervical cancer. These include:

• The type of cancer
• The stage of the disease
• The woman's age and general physical condition

Pre-cancerous conditions are completely curable when followed up and treated properly. The chance of being alive in 5 years (5-year survival rate) for cancer that has spread to the inside of the cervix walls but not outside the cervix area is 92%.

The 5-year survival rate falls steadily as the cancer spreads into other areas.

• Some types of cervical cancer do not respond well to treatment.
• The cancer may come back (recur) after treatment.
• Women who have treatment to save the uterus have a high risk of the cancer coming back (recurrence). 
• Surgery and radiation can cause problems with sexual, bowel, and bladder function.

Call your health care provider if you:

• Are a sexually active woman who has not had a Pap smear in the past year
• Are at least 20 years old and have never had a pelvic examination and Pap smear
• Think your mother may have taken DES when she was pregnant with you
• Have not had regular Pap smears (ask your health care provider how often you should have one performed)

Images

Pap smear

Cervical cancer

Cervical biopsy

Cervical cancer

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Review Date: 12/28/2010
Reviewed By: Yi-Bin Chen, MD, Leukemia/Bone Marrow Transplant Program, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)