Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer in women under 35 in the UK after breast cancer.

Around 2,800 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer each year, with more than 1,000 women dying of the disease annually.

The cancer develops in the cells lining the cervix, which is the canal which connects the uterus to the vagina.

There are two main types of cervical cancer - squamous cell cancer and adenocarcinoma - named after the type of cell that becomes cancerous.

The primary cause of cervical cancer is the virus Humanpapillomavirus (HPV), which is a common infection transmitted through sexual intercourse.

Cervical cancer gained media attention recently when reality TV star Jade Goody was diagnosed with the disease.

A nationwide cervical screening programme helps to pick up the cancer through regular testing. Smear tests detect pre-cancerous changes called CINs, as well as cancers themselves.

According to Cancer Research UK, the cervical screening programme saves around 5,000 lives every year.

If caught at their earliest pre-cancerous stage, abnormal cervical cells can be dealt with using either freezing or heat to scour the cells from the cervix.

Options to clear the cancer can include surgery to remove abnormal tissue or the entire womb, including the cervix. If the cancer spreads beyond the wall of the womb, radiotherapy and chemotherapy may be considered.

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