Understanding Cervical Cancer: What You Need to Know

Read more about cervical cancer and how it impacts us.

Hyperplasia - This is when the cells lining the ducts or lobules in the breasts grow too fast. It doesn’t typically cause a lump, but it can be seen on a mammogram and diagnosed via biopsy.  Link to cancer risk: Mild hyperplasia doesn’t impact cancer risk. But moderate hyperplasia comes with a 1.5 to 2 times increase of risk, and atypical hyperplasia multiplies risk by 3.5 to 5 times.  (Photo: Thomas Barwick/Getty Images)

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January Is National Cervical Health Month - This month is National Cervical Health Month. Read more about cervical cancer, HPV and how the disease affects Black women. — Kellee Terrell (@kelleent)(Photo: Thomas Barwick/Getty Images)

What Is Uterine Cancer? - This type of cancer starts in a woman’s uterus and happens when abnormal cells begin to develop in this area. Like many cancers, this can spread to other parts of the body as well. The most common uterine cancer is endometrial cancer, which starts in the lining of the uterus.(Photo: American Cancer Society/Getty Images)

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What Is Cervical Cancer? - It’s cancer of the cervix, which is located in the lower part of a woman’s uterus (womb). Most cervical cancer begins with the cells lining the cervix wall, which over time turn from pre-cancerous cells into cancerous cells, says Cancer.org. (Photo: American Cancer Society/Getty Images)

HPV and Cervical Cancer

 - HPV is still a factor for lesbian and bisexual women, especially those who have had sex with men in the past. Given the lack of access to health care and well-woman visits, plus the fact that Black women are more likely to die from cervical cancer, Black lesbians and bisexual women still need to get Pap smears and monitor their cervical health. (Photo: BSIP/UIG Via Getty Images)

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Types of Cervical Cancer - There are two major types of cervical cancer: Squamous cell carcinoma and Adenocarcinoma. It’s estimated that most women (80 to 90 percent) with cervical cancer are diagnosed with squamous cell carcinomas. Once diagnosed with cancerous cells, it can be treated with surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. (Photo: BSIP/UIG Via Getty Images)

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What Causes It? - Having a high-risk strain of the common STD human papillomavirus (HPV) is the number on risk factor. However, other risk factors include smoking, having more than one sexual partner, being a secondhand smoker, having a compromised immune system, having a lot of children and being on birth control pills for a long period of time, WebMD says. (Photo: Getty Images)

How Common Is Cervical Cancer?  - Because HPV is the most common STD in the U.S. – it’s estimated that almost 40 percent of all women have had it in their lifetime – cervical cancer can be a serious threat, despite it being rare. In 2010, 11,100 American women were diagnosed with cervical cancer and almost 4,000 died, says the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (Photo: Keith Brofsky/Getty Images)

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How Common Is Cervical Cancer?  - Because HPV is the most common STD in the U.S. – it’s estimated that almost 40 percent of all women have had it in their lifetime – cervical cancer can be a serious threat, despite it being rare. In 2010, 11,100 American women were diagnosed with cervical cancer and almost 4,000 died, says the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (Photo: Keith Brofsky/Getty Images)

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Black Women and Cervical Cancer - Of the 2,000 Black women diagnosed each year, a whopping 40 percent of us will die from  the disease. This is due to range of factors, including poor access to health care, high rates of HPV infections among Black women/girls and the fact that HPV takes longer to clear up in us than our white counterparts. (Photo: LWA/Dann Tardif/Getty Images)

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What About the Vaccine? - There are two forms of the vaccine (Cervarix and Gardasil) available for girls and young women ages 11-26. Boys and young men can receive Gardasil, too. These vaccines can be expensive — the set of three shots required can cost up to $390 and not all insurances cover it. And Black girls are 35 percent less likely to get the vaccine.  (Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

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HPV Vaccine and the Racial Divide - While the HPV vaccine has been proven safe and effective in reducing HPV and cancer rates among girls and boys, young Black women and girls are 35 percent less likely to get the shot. Its hefty price ($350 for the series of three shots), mistrust of doctors and cultural issues around teen sexuality play into this disparity. (Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

My Man Isn’t on the Low, So We Don’t Need Condoms - Study after study has shown that down-low men are not fueling the AIDS epidemic among Black women. So why do we still believe it? Think: If heterosexual sex is how we are being infected, that means straight Black men have this disease, too. So rap it up, regardless of who you’re with.(Photo: Touchlife Images/Getty Images)

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Preventing Cervical Cancer - Cervical cancer can be prevented through the help of the HPV vaccine, safer sex and by getting Pap smears. These exams can detect if there are any abnormal cells on your cervix, which from there, the doctors can monitor over time and treat pre-cancerous cells. Don’t forget: You can also be tested for HPV, too. (Photo: Touchlife Images/Getty Images)

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Remember: Cervical Cancer Shows No Signs - For most, cervical cancer doesn’t have symptoms. If symptoms exist, they include: abnormal vaginal bleeding and mucus with blood; significant changes in your menstrual cycle; pain and or bleeding during sex; menstrual induced anemia (low iron); low back and pelvic pain; weight loss; and urine and stool leakage, says WebMD. (Photo: i love images/Getty Images)

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Condoms Don’t Always Prevent HPV - Yes, they can lower your risk of contracting HPV, but that doesn’t mean they are bullet proof. HPV can infect areas that are not covered by a condom and can be passed through oral sex. (Photo: Alexander Tamargo/Getty Images for Magnum Condoms)