Cervical  Cancer Symptoms- What you need to know

Cervical  Cancer Symptoms- What you need to know

Cervix of the uterus is the neck of the womb. Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer in India in women accounting for 22.86% of all cancer cases in women and 12% of all cancer cases in both men and women. India is the second country in the world for new cases of cervical cancer in women, with an estimated 123,907 new cases each year. Cervical cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in Indian women, with an estimated 77,348 deaths each year. Hence it is important to know about, prevention and treatment of early cervical cancer cases

Early on, cervical cancer usually doesn’t have symptoms, making it hard to detect. Symptoms usually begin after the cancer has spread.

The early signs of cervical cancer include,

  • Vaginal bleeding after sex.
  • Vaginal bleeding after menopause.
  • Vaginal bleeding between periods or periods that are heavier or longer than normal.
  • Vaginal discharge that is watery and has a strong odor or that contains blood.
  • Pelvic pain or pain during sex.
  • Abnormal discharge usually pinkish and/or  foul smelling.

Advanced cervical cancer symptoms   (cancer has spread beyond the cervix to other parts of the body) may include the symptoms of early-stage cervical cancer and also

  • Difficult or painful bowel movements or bleeding from the rectum when having a bowel movement.
  • Difficult or painful urination or blood in the urine.
  • Dull backache.
  • Swelling of the legs.
  • Pain in the abdomen.
  • Fatigue (feeling tired).

These symptoms may be caused by many conditions other than cervical cancer. The only way to know is to see a health professional. If it is cervical cancer, ignoring symptoms can delay treatment and make it less effective.

Early stages of cervical cancer can be detected during screening programmes.

The goal of screening for cervical cancer is to find precancerous cervical cell changes (cervical dysplasias), when treatment can prevent cervical cancer from developing. Sometimes, cancer is also found during cervical screening. Cervical cancer found at an early stage is usually easier to treat. By the time symptoms appear, cervical cancer may have begun to spread, making treatment more difficult.

There are three main ways to screen for cervical cancer:

  • HPV infection test : The human papillomavirus (HPV) test checks cells for infection with high-risk HPV types (16,18,31 & 33) that can cause cervical cancer.
  • PAP smear test : The Pap test (also called a Pap smear or cervical cytology) collects cervical cells so they can be checked for changes caused by HPV that may—if left untreated—turn into cervical cancer. It can find precancerous cells and cervical cancer cells. A Pap test also sometimes finds conditions that are not cancer, such as infection or inflammation.
  • The HPV/Pap cotest uses an HPV test and Pap smear test together to check for both high-risk HPV and cervical dysplasias (cervical cell changes).

Therefore apart from knowing the early symptoms and signs, cervical screening plays an extremely important role in the detection of early stages of cervical cancer.

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