By Dr Ananya Mandal, MD Cervical cancer is cancer of the cervix
or the entrance to the womb from the vagina. The cervix is
sometimes called the uterine cervix. What is the cervix? The
body of the uterus or the womb is like a pouch that grows to
accommodate the growing baby. The cervix connects the body of
the uterus to the vagina (birth canal). The part of the cervix
closest to the uterus is called the endocervix. The part next to
the vagina is the exocervix (or ectocervix). The cervix is lined
by two main types of cells. These are squamous cells (on the
exocervix) and glandular cells (on the endocervix). The
endocerivical lining thus is capable for secretions. The place
where these 2 cell types meet is called the transformation zone.
How does cancer occur? The body is built up of trillions of
cells. Each of these cells have a tightly regulated system
within their DNA that controls their growth, maturity, division
and death. When this DNA undergoes damage or changes, the cells
turn rogue and abnormal and grow