Kohdunkaulasyöpä
Kohdunkaulasyöpä, also known as cervical cancer, is a malignant tumor that originates in the cervix, the lower, narrow part of the uterus that opens into the vagina. In most cases, cervical cancer is caused by persistent infection with certain types of human papillomavirus (HPV). HPV is a very common virus, and many types exist, but only a few high-risk types are strongly linked to cervical cancer. These high-risk HPV types can cause abnormal changes in the cells of the cervix, which over time can develop into cancer.
The development of cervical cancer is typically a slow process. Precancerous changes, called cervical dysplasia or
Symptoms of cervical cancer may not appear until the cancer has progressed. When symptoms do occur, they
Diagnosis of cervical cancer involves a physical examination, Pap smear, HPV testing, and often a colposcopy,