Cervical cancer occurs in about 2500 women in the UK every year and accounts for about 1000 deaths. It can occur at any age but has a peak incidences in the mid thirties and fifties.
Women with cervical cancer usually present with an abnormal smear or with other symnptoms such as abnormal vaginal bleeding or bleeding after intercourse. Standard investigations include an examination under anaesthetic with inspection of the bladder and reactum, and an MRI scan.
Treatment is either surgical or medical dependant on the spread of disease. Surgical treatment depends on the extent of the disease and varies from removal of a piece of tissue from the neck of the womb (cone biopsy) to a radical excision of the cervix and surrounding lymph tissue (radical trachelectomy) to a radical hysterectomy and removal of lymph tissue (see gynaecological operations).
More information on cervical cancer can be found at the following sites;
