Cervical cancer. Light micrograph of a section through tissue from the cervix (neck of the womb) showing intraepithelial carcinoma (across centre), a form of cancer. Cancer of the cervix is rare and if detected early is almost always cured. Symptoms include bleeding between periods, pain after sexual intercourse and heavier periods. It is associated with infection with certain strains of the sexually transmitted human papilloma virus (HPV).