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Cervical Cancer

Definition of cervical cancer: Cancer that 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). Cervical cancer is almost always caused by human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. 
Estimated new cases and deaths from cervical (uterine cervix) cancer in the United States in 2012:


New cases: 12,170
Deaths: 4,220

See the online booklet What You Need To Know About™ Cancer of the Cervix to learn about cervical cancer symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and questions to ask the doctor.

For an overview of research advances, see Cancer Advances In Focus: Cervical Cancer.

Clinical Trials

Information and current news about clinical trials and trial-related data

Cancer Literature

Resources available from the PubMed database

Research and Related Information

Includes NCI-supported research, funding opportunities, and special reports

Related Pages

General Cancer Resources

  • Coping with Cancer: Supportive and Palliative Care
    Managing physical, emotional, and lifestyle effects of cancer and treatment on patients and families; also includes information on finances, insurance, and healthcare services.
  • Complementary and Alternative Medicine
    Healing philosophies, approaches, and therapies used in complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in cancer care.
  • Learn About Clinical Trials
    Basic to advanced information for all audiences about clinical trials. Learn about what clinical trials are, why they are important, and why people choose to take part. Also, learn strategies for educating others about the importance of clinical trials.