Cervical cancer is a major health problem in the world today. In some developing countries it is the commonest female cancer. It is estimated that around 370,00 cases of cervical cancer are diagnosed in the world each year.

In the UK the situation continues to improve. In 1997 there were 2,740 cases of cervical cancer in England and Wales with 1,222 women dying of this disease. This represents a death rate of around 4 per 100,000. This compares with a death rate in 1979 of 7 per 100,000, which is an improvement of over 40%.

Invasive cancer of the cervix occurs when abnormally dividing cells, which arise in the outer layer (or epithelium), invade into the deeper tissue layers. The resulting mass (or tumour) of invading cells continues to divide and enlarge as it invades the surrounding tissue. Cells may break off from the primary tumour and spread (or metastasise) via the lymphatic or blood vessels to distant sites. The size and degree of invasion of the cancerous tissue will determine the stage of the disease. Accurate staging of cervical cancer is vital in determining the optimum treatment.There are two main types of cervical cancer; cancers arising from squamous epithelium (squamous carcinoma), which covers the outer cervix i.e. that portion which protrudes into the vagina, and glandular cancers (adenocarcinoma) arising from the gland bearing epithelium of the cervical canal (leading up to the cavity of the uterus). Squamous cancers are the most common type of cancer of the cervix and it is this type of cancer that the cervical screening programme is specifically designed to prevent, although adenocarcinoma may also be detected/prevented by cervical smears.

Cervical cancer is a disease of young women and most commonly occurs around the mid 40's. It can affect a wide age range and women in their 20's may develop the disease.