HPV and Cervical Cancer
Cervical cancer forms in tissues of the cervix (the organ connecting the uterus and vagina). It is usually a slow-growing cancer that may not have symptoms but can be found with regular Pap tests (a procedure in which cells are scraped from the cervix and looked at under a microscope). When cervical cancer is found early, it is highly treatable and associated with long survival and good quality of life.
Cervical cancer is caused by a common virus called human papillomavirus (HPV). HPV is spread by skin-to-skin contact in the genital area, even if there is no sexual intercourse. HPV usually has no symptoms, goes away on its own, and does not cause health problems. However, many different types of HPV can cause cervical cancer in women. When the body's immune system can't get rid of a high-risk HPV infection, it can linger over time and turn normal cells into abnormal cells and then cancer. Other types of HPV can cause genital warts in both women and men.
The American Cancer Society estimates that in 2009 more than 11,000 women will be diagnosed with cervical cancer and approximately 4,070 will die from it in the U.S. In several counties in south central North Carolina, cervical cancer rates are higher than the state average.
For more detailed information about cervical cancer and HPV, click About Cervical Cancer and About HPV under the FAQs section.