Hi Tricia, I'm sorry that your friends are going through this at such a young age. It sucks for anyone, but especially those women who are younger.
I encourage you (and your friends) to take this chance to get more information about cervical cell changes. I am wondering if your friends may be dealing with cervical pre-cancer versus cervical cancer. Invasive cervical cancer is actually less common in any age woman, but pre-cancer is quite common (as you can see if you read through the forum here). The best thing your friends can do is get copies of their pap reports and colposcopy and biopsy reports (if they have had this done). The pap report will tell them what level of cell changes they are dealing with and then they can research these terms online. Of course, they can also sit down with their doctors and demand more information as well
The best thing that you can do as a friend, is to listen when they need you to listen. Encourage them to find out more information about what is happening with their bodies. Offer to accompany them to an appointment if they feel like they need someone to go along with them.
Hope this helps a little. Good luck to your friends! I really hope it is pre-cancer they are dealing with and easily taken care of.
Karen