About This Booklet

This National Cancer Institute (NCI) booklet (NIH Publication No. 08-2407) is about cervical cancer.* The disease begins on the surface of the cervix. If not treated, the cancer invades more deeply into the cervix. This is called invasive cervical cancer. In 2012, more than 12,000 women in the United States will be diagnosed with invasive cervical cancer. Most of these women are younger than 55.

This booklet is only about invasive cervical cancer. It's not about precancer, abnormal cells found only on the surface of the cervix, or other cervical changes. These cell changes are treated differently from invasive cervical cancer.

Instead of this booklet, women with abnormal cervical cells only on the surface may want to read the NCI booklet Understanding Cervical Changes: A Health Guide for Women. It tells about abnormal cells and describes treatments.

Also, the NCI offers the following materials about the Pap test and abnormal test results:

This booklet tells about diagnosis, staging, treatment, and follow-up care. Learning about medical care for invasive cervical cancer can help you take an active part in making choices about your care.

This booklet has lists of questions that you may want to ask your doctor. Many people find it helpful to take a list of questions to a doctor visit. To help remember what your doctor says, you can take notes or ask whether you may use a tape recorder. You may also want to have a family member or friend go with you when you talk with the doctor - to take notes, ask questions, or just listen.