In fact, Bureau of Medicine and Surgery instruction 6320, Annual Health Maintenance Examination for Women, directs that the annual physical examination for women also include a pap smear. Skin type cells called squamous, represent 85 percent of the cervical cancers. The other 15 percent of the cervical cancer patients can be attributed to glandular cancer called adenocarcinoma, and its variants. The cause of adenocarcinoma is not very clear but there is some indication that HPV may be a contributing factor, said Remmenga. Women that practice unprotected sex, have multiple partners or a history of early sexual activity have the greatest risk.
Smoking is another risk factor for cervical cancer.
According to the American Cancer Society, smoking can produce chemicals that may damage the DNA in cells of the cervix and increase the risk of developing cancer. With no obvious physical signs of an abnormality in the body, the best way to prevent pre-cancers is to have regular pap smear tests. Early detection can stop cervical cancer before it develops fully. Invasive cervical cancer is diagnosed with four major stages, which refer to the location of the disease. Stage One, confined to cervix, has an 85 percent curable rate.