What is cervical cancer?
The cervix is the lower, narrow part of the uterus that leads to the vagina. It comprises two parts - the endocervix (leading towards the uterus) and the ectocervix (leading towards the vagina).
Cervical cancer develops in the cervical mucosa. In most cases, the cancer originates in the epithelium of the cervical mucosa and is referred to as carcinoma. There are two types of cervical carcinoma:
- Squamous cell carcinomas (85% of cases), which develop in the ectocervix