Words to know: Cervical cancer
- Cervix
- The lower, narrow part of the uterus that opens into the vagina.
- HPV
- Human papillomavirus. A common virus spread by skin contact during sex. Some types can cause cancer.
- HPV vaccine
- A shot that protects against the HPV types that cause most cervical cancers. It works best before any exposure.
- Pap test
- A screening test that checks cells from the cervix for changes.
- Precancer (CIN)
- Abnormal cells on the cervix that could turn into cancer if not treated.
- Colposcopy
- A close look at the cervix with a magnifying tool.
- Conization
- Removing a cone-shaped piece of the cervix to test or treat it.
- Trachelectomy
- Surgery to remove the cervix but keep the uterus, so pregnancy may still be possible.
- Radical hysterectomy
- Surgery to remove the uterus, cervix, the tissue around them, and the top of the vagina.
- Simple hysterectomy
- Surgery to remove the uterus and cervix only.
- Chemoradiation
- Chemotherapy and radiation given during the same weeks.
- External beam radiation
- Radiation aimed at the pelvis from a machine outside the body.
- Brachytherapy
- Radiation placed inside the body, close to the tumor, for a short time.
- Cisplatin
- A platinum chemotherapy medicine often given with radiation for cervical cancer.
- Immunotherapy
- Medicine that helps your immune system find and attack cancer.
- PD-L1
- A protein on cancer cells that can help predict if immunotherapy may work.
- Bevacizumab
- A medicine that blocks blood vessel growth to tumors.
- Antibody-drug conjugate
- A medicine that links an antibody to chemotherapy so it goes straight to cancer cells.
- Lymph nodes
- Small bean-shaped glands that filter fluid. Cancer can spread to them.
- Vaginal dilator
- A smooth tube used after radiation to keep the vagina from narrowing.
- Lymphedema
- Swelling, often in the legs, after lymph nodes are removed or treated.
- Pelvic exenteration
- A large surgery that removes several pelvic organs to treat cancer that has come back.
- Recurrence
- When cancer comes back after treatment.
Last updated: 2026-10-27. Medically reviewed by Veli Bakalov, MD, medical oncologist (October 2026). General education from Step by Step, the patient portal of HemeOncBuddy.