What are the symptoms of cervical cancer and do they mean the cancer has progressed to a late stage?
What is cervical cancer?
Cervical cancer is a type of cancer that affects women between the ages of 30 and 50. It originates in the lower part of the uterus called the neck, which is the part that connects the vagina to the uterus. The cells in the cervix go through several abnormal stages called pre-cancerous transformations. Symptoms of cervical cancer usually do not appear in its early stages, and below we will learn about them in detail.
What are the symptoms of cervical cancer?
Symptoms of cervical cancer vary depending on the stage of development of the cancer cells. At first, no clear symptoms appear, but as the disease progresses, women begin to notice these symptoms:
- Abnormal vaginal bleeding:
This is one of the most prominent symptoms of cervical cancer that the doctor asks about at the beginning of the diagnosis. Bleeding occurs between menstrual cycles, after sexual intercourse, or after menopause, and its severity varies from one case to another depending on the stage of the cancer and the condition of the cervical tissues. - Unusual vaginal discharge:
Women notice abundant and abnormal vaginal discharge that is gray or yellow in color, sometimes mixed with blood and has a foul odor. - Pain during intercourse:
Feeling severe pain during and after intercourse due to inflammation or abnormal growth in the cervical tissue, and sometimes the pain is accompanied by bleeding. - Multiple pains:
The patient feels multiple body pains, especially in the pelvic area and lower back. The pain may be intermittent or continuous all the time, and it intensifies as the stages of cervical cancer progress. - Feeling uncomfortable:
The woman feels pressure on the pelvis, which may be accompanied by bloating or fullness, which gives a feeling of discomfort. - Difficulty urinating and defecating:
In the advanced stages of cervical cancer, the patient feels severe pain and difficulty urinating and defecating due to the pressure of the tumor on the bladder or rectum. - Swelling in the legs:
This symptom clearly appears when the lymph nodes or blood vessels are affected by the cancer, which affects the legs and leads to their swelling. - Unexplained weight loss:
Due to the general weakness caused by cancer and the pain that the patient constantly feels, her appetite is affected and she loses weight abnormally.
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Causes of cervical cancer
The causes of cervical cancer symptoms are mainly related to a viral infection with some factors that we mention in detail below:
- Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is the most common cause of cervical cancer.
- Engaging in multiple, unprotected sexual intercourse increases the risk of contracting HPV.
- Using birth control pills for long periods may cause harm, resulting in harmful hormonal changes.
- Irregularity in examinations and neglect of early detection, which helps the tumor turn into cancerous cells over time.
Risk factors for cervical cancer
Smoking and weak immunity are among the most important risk factors for cervical cancer. As we know, the chemicals in tobacco severely harm the cells of the uterus and weaken the immune system, which accelerates the development of cancer cells. In addition to the danger of taking immunosuppressive medications for long periods, they may contribute to the development of the disease and the delay of the condition.
Diagnosis of cervical cancer
There are many methods for diagnosing cervical cancer, including the following:
- Patient's family medical history:
The doctor first conducts a comprehensive medical history for the patient by asking about any history of cancer in the family in order to build reliable evidence about the diagnosis. - Clinical examination:
The clinical examination is the stage in which the doctor asks about the symptoms of cervical cancer and what the patient has been exposed to, along with examining the pelvis and vagina in search of any signs confirming the infection. - Pap smear: This is the most important stage in diagnosis, in which a sample or swab is taken from the cervix to detect cancer cells or any changes in the cells present in the cervix.
- Human papillomavirus (HPV) test: The doctor orders this laboratory test before or after the smear to detect the presence of the virus that causes cervical cancer.
- Colposcopy:
Here the uterus is examined using a magnifying device to view the cervix clearly, and during the endoscopy the doctor can take a sample or biopsy of the cervical tissue for examination. - Cervical imaging: Diagnosis here is done through either a CT scan or an MRI to determine the extent of the spread of cancer cells and accurately determine the stage of cervical cancer.
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Cervical cancer treatment
After we mentioned the symptoms of cervical cancer and how to diagnose them, we come to the most important matter, which is how to treat cervical cancer in a safe and effective way after confirming the infection. The treatment methods are summarized as follows:
- Chemotherapy:
It is a drug treatment that has been used for many years to treat cancer through drugs that destroy cancer cells and stop their spread, but it may affect some normal cells in the body, affecting some functions. - Radiotherapy:
It is a treatment that destroys cancer cells with radiation and is often used in combination with chemotherapy or to eliminate specific foci of cancer cells. - Surgical intervention:
It is getting rid of cervical cancer by surgically removing the tumor, and it may include a total hysterectomy depending on the stage of the cancer. - Immunotherapy:
Immunotherapy is a type of treatment that does not aim to directly destroy cancer cells, but rather works to stimulate the immune system to fight cancer. - Targeted therapy:
Targeted therapy relies on a group of medications that specifically target cancer cells without harming normal cells, making it less harmful to the body than chemotherapy.
Get to know Uterine cancer treatment Symptoms and diagnosis
How can cervical cancer be prevented?
Doctors at Al Mousa Specialist Hospital provide some advice that helps women prevent cervical cancer or even detect the tumor before it develops and turns into cancerous cells, including the following:
- The HPV vaccine is given to girls from the age of 9 to 14 years and can be given until the age of 25.
- Commitment to regular cervical examinations and a smear every 3 years starting at the age of 25.
- Quit smoking permanently because harmful substances weaken the immune system, as we mentioned.
- Pay attention to washing the sensitive area in a healthy way without harmful chemicals.
- Work to strengthen immunity through healthy nutrition and exercise.
Please contact the oncologists at Al Mousa Specialist Hospital immediately when you notice any of the symptoms of cervical cancer, which helps in early detection of the disease before the condition becomes delayed and becomes difficult to treat later. Al Mousa Hospital welcomes you at any time, as it has the largest unit for diagnosing and treating tumors at the hands of doctors and surgeons among the best medical staff in the Arab world.
Frequently asked questions
Below we answer the most important questions related to the symptoms of cervical cancer:
What color are cervical cancer secretions?
Cervical cancer secretions are usually clear or gray in color and are not sticky, and in some cases bloody secretions appear between monthly menstrual periods.
How do I know that I have uterine cancer?
There are signs that make you suspect the possibility of uterine cancer, such as experiencing abnormal vaginal bleeding after menopause or between menstrual cycles, severe pelvic pain, especially when urinating, and unexplained weight loss.
What is the stage before cervical cancer is detected?
The pre-cancerous stage is an early stage before cancer is discovered, in which women only feel some secretions or minor bleeding after intercourse, and discovering the tumor at this stage helps a lot in recovering from it.
Medical sources:
Cervical cancer – nhs
Symptoms of Cervical Cancer – cleveland clinic
Cervical Cancer Treatment – National Cancer Institute
