Where does cervical cancer spread to first?

Cervical cancer is staged from stage 0 (earliest and least severe) to stage IV (metastatic disease, advanced and the most severe). Staging is based on size and depth of the cancerous lesion, as well as degree of spread. read more

Cervical cancer usually extends by lateral spread to involve the parametria, following a path of least resistance. In this scenario, the cardinal ligaments eventually are involved. Another common pattern of spread is distal, to involve the vaginal fornices and later (and with larger-volume tumors) the midportion and distal third of the vagina. read more

N indicates any cancer spread to lymph nodes near the cervix. Lymph nodes are bean-sized collections of immune system cells, to which cancers often spread first. M indicates if the cancer has spread (metastasized) to distant sites, such as other organs or lymph nodes that are not near the cervix. FIGO stages are the same as AJCC stages. read more