Symptoms of cervical cancer may be abnormal vaginal bleeding or abnormal vaginal discharge.
Cervical cancer is associated with the following risk factors:
Cervical cancer is closely linked to sexual behavior and infections transmitted sexually by certain types of viruses. Women who have sex at a young age, have multiple partners, or a partner with multiple partners are at greater risk of developing the disease. Other risk factors include aging, infection with HPV *, smoking, and belonging to lower socioeconomic classes.
In Canada, cancer of the cervix (or cancer of the uterus) ranks 11th among cancers diagnosed in women. On the other hand, it ranks second among the most common cancers in women worldwide. A vaccine against the two main viruses responsible for cervical cancer is now available in the United States and Canada.
* The abbreviation HPV stands for Human Papillomavirus. The English expression HPV is also used, it translates to Human Papillomavirus.