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Cervical Cancer

Information, Symptoms, Treatments and Resources

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Cervical Cancer: What Every Woman Should Know

Stages of Cervical Cancer

Stages of Cervical Cancer

If you’ve been diagnosed with cervical cancer, your doctor will conduct imaging tests (like an X-ray, MRI or CT scan) or other procedures to determine the stage, or severity, of the cancer. Cervical cancer is categorized into four stages:

  • Stage I (least severe): Cancer is confined to the cervix.
  • Stage II: Cancer is confined to the cervix and uterus.
  • Stage III: Cancer has spread to the pelvic wall or the lower part of the vagina.
  • Stage IV (most severe): Cancer has spread to nearby organs, like the bladder or rectum, or to other parts of the body, such as the lungs.

Once the cancer has been diagnosed and staged, your doctor will work with you to develop a treatment plan based on its stage, your treatment preferences, and other health conditions you may have.

By Jenilee Matz, MPH. Published January 29, 2013. Jenilee is a medical writer, health educator, and triathlete based in Charlotte, NC.