Cervical cancer - how long do you live after diagnosis?

say your doctor identifies that the cells have gone cancerous..and you have symptoms...how long do you live? any stories of survivors appreciated.

Cervical cancer used to be a significant cause of cancer-related deaths in women in the United States. Fortunately, due to more women getting regular Pap smears, the number of cervical cancer deaths has decreased dramatically, dropping about 74 percent between 1955 and 1992.

Cervical cancer is one of the most preventable types of cancer. With regular Pap smears, cervical cancer can be prevented in just about all cases.

There are different stages of cervical cancer, ranging from stage I through stage IV. The staging system measures how far the disease has advanced.

Stage IA: This is microinvasive, or very early cervical cancer. The five-year survival rate ranges from 96 to 99 percent. Treatment options for stage IA include surgery.

Stage IB: In this stage, the cancer is visible without the use of a microscope. Five-year survival rates for this stage of cervical cancer are 80 to 90 percent. Common treatments include surgery, chemotherapy and radiation.

Stage II: In stage II, cancer has spread outside the uterus to adjacent tissue, but has not reached the lower third of the vagina or all the way to the lateral wall of the pelvis. Five-year survival is 65 to 69 percent. Common treatment for stage II cervical cancer include surgery, radiation and chemotherapy.

Stage III: Stage III cervical cancer indicates that the cancer has advanced beyond the parameters for stage II or has caused changes in the kidney. Five-year survival is 40 to 43 percent. Common treatments include chemotherapy and radiation.

Stage IV: Stage IV is the last stage of cervical cancer. In this stage the cancer has left the pelvis and affected more distant organs. The five-year survival rate for this stage of cancer is 15 to 20 percent. Types of treatment include chemotherapy and radiation.

what kind of horrible question is this? what is wrong with you?

I don't know, but my Mom had cancer a long time ago, she is still living....healthly. She got it out!!