How long does it take for Cervical Cancer to develop? - Dr. Neelesh Reddy

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09/10/23

The main etiology for cervical cancer to occur is a virus called as human papilloma virus. This virus goes and settles in the cervix and it causes some local changes there. The over the next 10 to 15 year it causes some changes in some cells, which then gets converted into cancer. Many at times if we are able to treat this virus or the person if by self-immunity is able to eliminated this virus, the changes what it causes can be reverted. However in a small number of people this will convert into cancer. So the latency period from the initial point to the point where the cancer actually gets invasive cancer is about 10 to 15 years the biggest advantage at this point is that we have a lot of lead time where we can intervene by several tests like pap smear or HPV testing and detect cancer in a very very early stage and in many cases before the actual cancer has taken place.