cervix

What is cervical cancer? Cervical cancer is cancer that begins growing in or on the cervix, the neck of the uterus. Cancer happens when cells begin to grow and spread in an uncontrolled way. Cervical cancer is divided into two main types, depending on which cervical cells are affected: Cervical squamous cell carcinoma is cancer of the squamous cells in the cervix and makes up about 70 per cent of all cervical cancers. Cervical adenocarcinoma affects the mucus-producing cells of the cervix and makes up about 25 per cent of cervical cancers. Cervical cancer affects about 900 Australians per year. The number of cases has decreased