Cervical cancer
is a slowly progressing disease, which affects the lining of the mouth of the uterus, known as cervix
Cancer is a disease, which is caused by the uncontrolled growth and proliferation of cells. Cancer that affects the lining of the cervix, which is the lower part of the uterus, is known as cervical cancer.
The surface of the cervical lining comprises of two cell types, the squamous and the columnar cells. Squamous cells are resistant to injury while the columnar cells forms glands and secrete a mucus- like fluid. The region in the cervix where there is a transition from one cell type to another is called squamo-columnar junction. This is the area that is most prone to develop cancer. During a Pap-screening test, samples from this area are removed to be examined.
Cancer of the cervix develops gradually and becomes full-blown over a period of time. The abnormal changes that the cervical cells develop which transform them to a pre-cancerous state are referred to as 'Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia' (CIN). Based on its degree or intensity, these changes are classified as low grade CIN and high grade CIN.
CIN may eventually progress to Squamous Intraepithelial Lesion (SIL) or it may develop into Carcinoma In-situ, which is localized malignant growth. SIL can be further divided into low or high grade.
High-grade SIL and Carcinoma in-situ may transform into Invasive Carcinoma, which spreads to adjacent tissues. The Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the uterus, seen in 80-90% of the cases, mostly affects the squamous cells, while the Adenocarcinoma, affecting the glandular cells, is observed in the remaining cases.
Cervical Cancer
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