what causes it?
what are the symtoms
do teens usually get it
and how effective is the gardisil shot after you get it?

Cervical cancers are often caused by viruses. Gardisil has a couple of the more common uterine ones in it's mix.
Just like the flu, if you have already been exposed the vaccine will not do you any good. So getting it before you are sexually active is best. It si very effective assuming that you haven't already been exposed.
Since cervical cancer runs in my family I would love to get it but since I am married and 40 it probably would not do me any good. But if I were a teen I would be the first one in line!
http://www.gardasil.com/
Here is the companies website that explains more.

Cervical cancer is one of the most common cancers that affect a woman's reproductive organs. Various strains of the human papillomavirus (HPV), a sexually transmitted infection, play a role in causing most cases of cervical cancer.

Cervical cancer most commonly begins in the thin, flat cells that line the bottom of the cervix (squamous cells). Squamous cell carcinomas account for about 80 percent of cervical cancers. Cervical cancer can also occur in the glandular cells that line the upper portion of the cervix. Called adenocarcinomas, these cancers make up about 15 percent of cervical cancers. Sometimes both types of cells are involved in cervical cancer. Very rare cancers can occur in other cells in the cervix.

What causes squamous cells or glandular cells to become abnormal and develop into cancer isn't clear. However, it's certain that the sexually transmitted infection called human papillomavirus (HPV) plays a role. Evidence of HPV is found in nearly all cervical cancers. However, HPV is a very common virus and most women with HPV never develop cervical cancer. This means other risk factors, such as your genetic makeup, your environment or your lifestyle choices, also determine whether you'll develop cervical cancer.

Symptoms -
You may not experience any cervical cancer symptoms — early cervical cancer generally produces no signs or symptoms. As the cancer progresses, these cervical cancer symptoms and signs may appear:
* Vaginal bleeding after intercourse, between periods or after menopause
* Watery, bloody vaginal discharge that may be heavy and have a foul odor
* Pelvic pain or pain during intercourse

Generally women who are married and sexually active and after child birth, can get Cervical cancer and the chances for teens getting this disease is very remote, unless they have a strong family history.

Vaccine is for HPV and not Cervical cancer-
There is not short or vaccine for Cancer of cervix. The vaccine - GAEDISIL - has been tried by FDA and it is against HPV virus which causes Cervical cancer. The cancer can be prevented by having this vaccine. -

They have vaccines for it, if you haven't already gotten one, ask your parents or doctor about getting it.

Teens don't usually get it, and gardisil is fairly effective.

what causes it?

Cervical cancer is caused by cells in the cervix which mutate so that they no longer respond to the body's signals to stop growing. Very often, cervical cancer is caused by human papilloma virus, an STD. Some strains of the virus change the DNA, leading to abnormal cells and possibly cancer.

what are the symtoms

When women get their regular pap smears, the doctor scrapes cells off of the cervix. This sample is sent to a lab where they look at the cells under a microscope. They can see any abnormal cells, so they can start treatment to prevent them from developing into cancer.

do teens usually get it

Cervical cancer usually takes many years to develop, so it's usually older women. However, it is possbile for younger women to get it. There was an article in Jane magazine a while back about a woman in her mid-20s who died from it.

and how effective is the gardisil shot after you get it?

Effective enough for the FDA to approve it. However, I don't know if they actually have long term studies to show that the vaccine lasts for a lifetime, or if people will have to get booster shots.

Hi and thanks jayaraman,

I just wanted to know about cervical cancer and after reading your post I come to know about it. thanks for your posting.

Take care.

Foods that have B6 include nuts, legumes, meat and whole grains.
You should have at least 800 mg of vitamin E per day.
I recommend How to Prevent and Treat Cancer with Natural Medicine by Mike Murray, and Beating Cancer With Nutrition by Patrick Quillen. Both books are a goldmine of good advice and suggestions written by experts in the field. A little study will yield you big rewards.