About cervical cancer

What is cervical cancer?

Cervical cancer begins when abnormal cells in the lining of the cervix grow uncontrollably. Cancer often starts in the transformation zone of the cervix. It may then spread to tissues around the cervix, such as the vagina, parametrium (tissue surrounding the cervix) or to other parts of the body, such as the lymph nodes, lungs or liver.

Types of cervical cancer

There are 2 types of cervical cancer that make up most of all cervical cancers. These are:

• squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) – the most common type (about 60% of cases), starts in the squamous cells of the cervix
• adenocarcinoma – starts in the glandular cells of the cervix (almost 30% of cases).

A small number of cervical cancers (less than 1 in 20) feature both squamous cells and glandular cells. These cancers are known as adenosquamous carcinomas or mixed carcinomas.

There are other rarer types of cancer that can start in the cervix. These include small cell cervical carcinoma, cervical clear cell adenocarcinoma and cervical sarcoma.

The cervix

The cervix is part of the female reproductive system, which also includes the ovaries, fallopian tubes, uterus (womb), vagina (birth canal) and vulva (external genitals).

The cervix, sometimes called the neck of the uterus, connects the uterus to the vagina. It helps keep the vagina healthy, lets menstrual blood flow out (your period), and makes mucus that can help sperm reach an egg. During pregnancy, it stays closed, opening when it’s time for the baby to be born. The cervix has 2 types of cells:

• squamous cells – flat, thin cells that cover the outer surface of the cervix (ectocervix)
• glandular cells – column-shaped cells that cover the inner surface of the cervix (cervical canal or endocervix).

The area where the squamous cells and glandular cells meet is known as the transformation zone.

The female reproductive system

How common is cervical cancer?

Anyone with a cervix can get cervical cancer – women, transgender men and people with an intersex variation. Each year in Australia, fewer than 1000 people are diagnosed with cervical cancer.

Cervical cancer is most commonly diagnosed in people over the age of 30. More than half of all cervical cancer cases are diagnosed in those aged 30–49 years, but it can occur at any age.

Cervical cancer has become much less common in Australia since the National Cervical Screening Program started in 1991. The program uses screening tests to look for early changes to the cells in the cervix that are not cancer but, if left untreated, may turn into cancer.