Cervical cancer

Alternative names:

cancer of the cervix; cervical neoplasm

Prevention:

Deferring sexual activity until older than 18 years of age, practicing monogamy, and safer sex behaviors all reduce the potential for cervical cancer.

A routine pelvic examination, including a Pap smear should be performed yearly beginning at the onset of sexual activity, or by the age of 20 in non-sexually active women. Pap smears detect abnormalities in the cells of the cervix, thus alerting the physician that further tests may need to be done. Early detection allows treatment to begin before cancer has actually developed.