Symptoms and signs of Cervical cancer

Executive Summary

Cervical cancer patients are diagnosed based on signs and symptoms. The symptoms and signs appear with early-stage cervical cancer. Some of the common signs and symptom of cervical cancer include bleeding after intercourse, pelvic examination or douching, unexplained, persistent pelvic or back pain, pain during sexual intercourse, menstrual bleeding that is longer and heavier than usual, light bleeding or blood spots between or following periods, increased vaginal discharge, and bleeding after menopause.

What are the early signs of Cervical cancer?

Usually, there are no signs and symptoms of cancer at a very early stage. For most women, within the early stage of cervical cancer, early signs do typically appear depending on the severity of the issue and to which level the disease has spread. Potential symptoms of Cervical Cancer are as follows:

  • Infrequent spotting or light bleeding between or after periods.
  • Menstrual bleeding exceeds the usual number of days.
  • Abnormal bleeding after intercourse, douching or after a pelvic examination
  • Increased vaginal flow or discharge
  • Bleeding after complete menopause
  • Chronic back pain, Persistent Pelvic Pain

If any of the above signs of Cervical Cancer and symptoms are observed, report to a doctor immediately. The earlier precancerous cells can be treated with medical facilities and minor Surgery. If there is a frequent experience of any of the above symptoms, the concerned physicians will examine your medical history and question you about how often you’ve been experiencing the symptoms. This will help for further diagnosis

Signs and Symptoms of Cervical Cancer

Precancer usually does not lead to any signs or symptoms. Symptoms typically appear with early-stage cervical cancer. If the cancer is advanced or has metastasized to other parts of the body, the symptoms can be more serious depending on the tissues and organs to which the disease has spread. The symptom may also be because of a different medical condition that is not cancer, so people need medical care if they have a new symptom that does not go away.

Any of these could be signs or symptoms of cervical cancer ​1–3​:

  • Bleeding after intercourse, pelvic examination or douching
  • Unexplained, persistent pelvic or back pain
  • Pain during sexual intercourse
  • Menstrual bleeding that is longer and heavier than usual
  • Light bleeding or blood spots between or following periods
  • Increased vaginal discharge
  • Bleeding after menopause

If the above symptoms of cervical cancer are observed, they should be reported to your doctor. If these symptoms appear, it is essential to talk to the doctor about them, even if they seem to be symptoms of other, less severe conditions. The faster and earlier precancerous cells or cervical cancer is found and treated, the better the chance of cancer being prevented or cured.

References

  1. 1.
    Petignat P, Roy M. Diagnosis and management of cervical cancer. BMJ. Published online October 11, 2007:765-768. doi:10.1136/bmj.39337.615197.80
  2. 2.
    Palmer JE, Gillespie AM. Diagnosis and management of primary cervical carcinoma. Trends Urology, Gynecol Sexual Health. Published online June 8, 2010:24-30. doi:10.1002/tre.151
  3. 3.
    Lea JS, Lin KY. Cervical Cancer. Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinics of North America. Published online June 2012:233-253. doi:10.1016/j.ogc.2012.02.008