Many patients still have various questions and misconceptions about cervical cancer. Here we write out the most concerned and typical questions, hoping that you will have a correct understanding of cervical cancer. Q: What is cancer? Cancer is the uncontrolled growth of certain cells in human body, which leads to tumor or neoplastic organisms. Not all neoplastic organisms are cancers, but those that can spread to other parts of the body and interfere with the normal function of the body are called cancer. Q: What is cervical cancer? Cervical cancer is a cancer that originates in the cervix (the opening of the uterus). After the cells of the cervix begin to grow abnormally, they sometimes develop into cancer if left untreated. However, these early changes (precancerous lesions) can also go away on their own without causing symptoms. Q: I have cervical cancer, what virus is causing it? Cervical cancer is caused by infection with human papillomavirus (HPV). In most cases, HPV infection goes away without treatment; however, sometimes, high-risk types of HPV can survive in cells for several years, allowing some women to eventually develop cervical cancer. Q: Is cervical cancer an STD? No. But HPV can be transmitted through sexual contact and is fairly common in both men and women. Only a small percentage of women infected with HPV develop precancerous lesions. If left untreated, after a few years, some of them can develop cervical cancer years after HPV infection. Q: Can cervical cancer be prevented? Yes, it can. The HPV vaccine is currently being tested and does not yet cover all high-risk types. Currently, the best prevention for cervical cancer is through screening for precancerous lesions, which can be treated before they develop into cervical cancer. Q: Who is at risk for cervical cancer? All women who have ever had sex are potentially at risk for cervical cancer because they may have been infected with HPV. cervical cancer is most common in women between the ages of 40 and 60. The risk of cervical cancer is higher in women who have never been screened for cervical lesions, in women who started sex and had children too early, in women who have had more than five children, in women who have a high number of sexual partners or who have multiple sexual partners, in women who smoke, and in women who have persistent high-risk types of HPV infection. Q: I have been taking birth control pills, will it increase the risk of cervical cancer? Long-term oral contraceptive use can slightly increase the risk of cervical cancer. Women on oral contraceptives should be routinely screened.