ESMO Patients Guide
What is cervical cancer? Cervical cancer is a cancer that forms in the tissues of the cervix. It is usually a slow-growing cancer that may not have symptoms but can be detected through screening tests. Cervical cancer is almost always caused by HPV infection, with HPV detected in 99% of cervical tumours (Marth et al. 2017).
Cervical cancer is usually a slow-growing cancer with few symptoms
What are the different types of cervical cancer? There are three categories of cervical cancer: • Squamous tumours: This is the most common subtype, accounting for 70%–80% of cervical cancers. Squamous cell carcinoma begins in the thin, flat cells that line the cervix. • Glandular tumours (adenocarcinoma): This subtype accounts for 20%–25% of cervical cancers. Adenocarcinoma begins in cervical cells that make mucus and other fluids. • Other epithelial tumours: These rarer subtypes include adenosquamous carcinoma, neuroendocrine tumours and undifferentiated carcinoma.
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