The cervix is the neck of the uterus that opens into the vagina. Cervical cancer, also called cervical carcinoma, develops from abnormal cells on the surface of the cervix.
Cervical cancer is one of the most common cancers affecting women.
Cervical cancer is usually preceded by dysplasia, precancerous changes in the cells on the surface of the cervix. A Pap smear can easily detected dysplasia. These abnormal cells can progress to invasive cancer. Once the cancer appears it can progress through four stages. The stages are defined by the extent of spread of the cancer.