Cervical Cancer
Leilani S. Haynes
Miller-Motte College
Research dedicated to the memory of my late grandmother, Ms. Susie Pittman.

Cervical Cancer
Cancer is a disease caused when abnormal cells divide uncontrollably in any part of the body. Cervical cancer is a gender specific disease that originates in the lining of the cervix; located in the lower part of a woman’s womb. This area is called the uterus. The women affected will also face a number of other life altering challenges. These challenges include, but are not limited to, infertility.
Although it is unclear what the definite cause of cervical cancer is, HPV (Human Papilloma Virus) is a known culprit. HPV is a very common virus among women, but not all women will develop cancer. Researchers have identified some inherited factors that can lead to the genetic connection of cervical cancer, however, it has not been scientifically proven to be a genetic disease. Although some women will skate through life without knowing or experiencing cervical cancer, it affects millions of women:
Cancer of the cervix is the second most common cancer in women worldwide and is a leading cause of cancer-related death in women in underdeveloped countries. Worldwide, approximately 500,000 cases of cervical cancer are diagnosed each year. In the United States, routine screening has decreased the incidence of cervical cancer—approximately 12,900 cases are diagnosed and 4,100 deaths occur each year. (Cervical Cancer, 2015)
Knowing the risk factors, signs, and an early diagnosis can mean the difference between life and death. Risk factors include Human papilloma virus infection (HPV), smoking, immunosuppression, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), chlamydia, diet low in fruits and vegetables, obesity, long-term use of oral contraceptives (birth control pills), intrauterine device use, multiple full-term pregnancies, being