As scary as it sounds, women with early cervical cancers and pre-cancers usually don’t experience any symptoms, until a pre-cancer becomes a true invasive cancer.
The symptoms only appear when the cancer grows into the nearby tissue and becomes a real threat. Common pap screenings are highly important in order to find and treat cervical cancer as well as other reproductive cancer such as ovarian cancer, in the early stages.
In between Pap screenings, it’s important to know and look out for these early signs of cervical cancer.
1. Irregular Bleeding
The most common symptom of cervical cancer is irregular vaginal bleeding, which many women tend to shrug off.
Irregular bleeding could occur in between menstrual periods or after sex. It may be disguised as spotting, showing as a slight blood-streaked discharge. Menstrual bleeding may also become heavier and last longer than usual. A major warning sign of cervical cancer or other problems is vaginal bleeding in post-menopausal women who no longer have periods.
2. Unusual Vaginal Discharge
Several types of vaginal discharge can occur that represent an early sign of cervical cancer. Here are some of the characteristics of a discharge that might be a warning sign:
- Pale
- Watery
- Brown
- Foul-smelling
- Tinged with blood
3. Pelvic Pain
Unusual pain during intercourse can be a warning sign for cervical cancer. It could signal abnormal changes to the cervix. Cervical cancer can spread within the pelvis.
Signs of Advanced Stages of Cervical Cancer
The above signs of cervical cancer are often missed, as many women don’t know to look for them. If you experience any of the following symptoms, it may be a sign of advanced cervical cancer:
- Back or pelvic pain
- Weight loss
- Difficulty going to the bathroom due to obstruction
- Swelling in one or both of the legs
- Fatigue
What Puts You at Risk?
Knowing and watching out for the early warning signs can help you prevent it, however knowing what factors can be the cause of cervical cancer is a big plus since it will help you stay safe from it. Here are the most common causes for cervical cancer:
- Having multiple sexual partners
- Smoking
- Having intercourse with a man who had a partner that suffered from cervical cancer
- Having intercourse for the 1st tine at a young age
- If your mother has used DES (diethylstilbestrol) during pregnancy
- Compromised immune system
The American Cancer Society warns women that the above signs and symptoms can be caused by conditions other than cervical cancer, such as an infection that leads to pain or bleeding. But if you are experiencing any of these problems, make an appointment with your health care professional right away.
Even if it is an infection, it will still need to be treated. When something isn’t right, your body has certain ways of telling you that there’s a problem, so don’t ignore something that’s out of the ordinary. Getting regular Pap tests will help to catch cancerous cells early, before they have a chance to spread.
Source: healthyremedies
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