{"id":3260,"date":"2019-01-24T07:06:20","date_gmt":"2019-01-24T07:06:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.today\/?p=3260"},"modified":"2021-03-24T13:55:33","modified_gmt":"2021-03-24T13:55:33","slug":"12-common-cervical-cancer-symptoms","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.today\/12-common-cervical-cancer-symptoms\/","title":{"rendered":"14 Common Cervical Cancer Symptoms"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Cervical cancer is a condition many women dread talking about, but it is important to be well-informed of the main symptoms of the condition. At one time, cervical cancer was a major cause of death among women, but thanks to the encouragement that women take regular pap smears, the number of deaths of cervical cancer has decreased significantly. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although pap smears are highly effective at detecting signs of cancer early, it is still essential to know the earliest signs of this condition, including irregular bleeding, unusual discharge, and pain during and after intercourse. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you have any of these symptoms, it is imperative to make an appointment with a gynecologist right away. Some of these symptoms can be mistaken for other phenomena, such as irregular bleeding during perimenopause, but it is better to take the trouble and get tested to be sure than to let it go.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Irregular Discharge
<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

It isn\u2019t unusual to have regular vaginal discharge<\/a>, but if you notice a different color, a watery consistency or a strong odor, you should be cautious. If there is blood in the discharge, this could indicate a cancerous growth or the advent of a period. However, if no period develops, then the discharge should be a cause of concern. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The unusual discharge is the result of tissue that has died as a result of the onset of cancer and is being passed out of the body. Other symptoms related to discharge may be discharged that is pink or brown and has small bits of tissue along with it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When tumors develop, there tends to be fluid released, and in the case of cervical cancer, this fluid happens to be visible. See your doctor if you notice any unusual discharge even if there is no pain or discomfort. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

2. Bleeding or Pain after Intercourse
<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If you ordinarily did not have pain during intercourse and suddenly feel unexpected aches after you are together with your partner, this might be a sign to make an appointment with a gynecologist.<\/a> Pain could be the first sign that something is developing in the cervix. The cervix is located at the area where the vagina and the uterus are connected. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sexual intercourse can press against this region and if there is a cancerous growth of cells, pain can develop and eventually bleeding. If you notice bleeding after intercourse, you may be experiencing one of the first symptoms of cervical cancer. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you rule out a possible period occurring right after sex, then it is important to have some exams to make sure that everything is alright. Although not all pain during or after intercourse is the sign of an illness, the potential symptom should not be ignored. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

3. Bleeding at Irregular Times
<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If your period is usually regular as clockwork and you suddenly have bleeding between periods, this may be a cause to be cautious. This symptom may be more difficult to spot if your periods are irregular to begin with or if you are going through perimenopause<\/a>, when your cycle may become less stable. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you bleed very heavily when you used to bleed lightly may also be a sign that you need medical attention. In addition, light spot if it is not usual for you can be a potential symptom. When menopause has concluded, there shouldn\u2019t be much bleeding, since periods have stopped, and the sudden resumption of bleeding can be a sign that there is something wrong. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you notice any unusual bleeding, you should make an appointment with a gynecologist for a full exam. There may be another explanation, such as hormonal fluctuations, but checking it out can\u2019t hurt. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

4. Back or Pelvic Pain
<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Although back and pelvic pain is not the first sign of cervical cancer, it is definitely a symptom. Once you start feeling pressure in your back or pelvis as the result of cervical cancer, the tumor has grown to the point where it is pressing against the internal organs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you have not had other symptoms of this condition, such as irregular or heavy bleeding and unpleasant and unusual discharge, it is unlikely that back and pelvic pain is a symptom of cervical cancer<\/a>, although it should be checked out. You may have pulled something or may want to have an exam to rule out other serious conditions such as bladder and kidney problems. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If the back or pelvic pain is the result of cervical cancer, it is in an advanced phase, so make sure you are aware of telltale symptoms of cervical cancer so you can spot the problem before it reaches this point. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

5. Swollen Leg
<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In some cases, serious illnesses such as cancer can carry symptoms that mainly affect the areas where the tumor <\/a>is growing. However, in other cases, it may seem to affect other parts of the body. The reason is that when a tumor grows, it may press against a nerve that may create a strong sensation in another part of the body. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For instance, one symptom of advanced cervical cancer is swelling in one leg. If there is a tumor in the cervix, it can press on a nerve that can be felt in the leg. It may be hard to guess that this leg problem is the result of cancerous growth in the cervix. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, this is not one of the early phases of cervical cancer, and if it is already affecting the leg, there probably have been other symptoms such as irregular bleeding and discharge. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

6. Loss of Appetite
<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

It isn\u2019t just cervical cancer that is characterized by a loss of appetite<\/a>. Most illnesses may be accompanied by a decreased desire to eat as the body fights off the sickness. When the body is focused on repairing itself and killing germs, it can\u2019t use its energy for digestion. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

With cancer, there are additional reasons for the loss of appetite. Tumors release cytokines which are a kind of proteins that suppress the appetite and can lead to quick weight loss. In addition, the loss of appetite can be the result of nausea and indigestion that often accompanies the growth of cancer cells. This can make it more difficult to eat. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The problem can be compounded by treatments such as chemotherapy that can make eating difficult and food unappealing. Cancerous growth in the cervix can also press against the gastrointestinal tract and lessen the desire to eat. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

7. Fatigue
<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When cervical cancer goes past its initial phase, you may start to feel major fatigue<\/a>. Part of the problem is that your body is \u201cfeeding\u201d a tumor that is growing in your body and taking nutrients away from your system. Another cause of constant tiredness is that your body is trying to deal with the illness and may not have enough energy left for its basic functions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A third reason is that one of the first symptoms of cervical cancer is irregular and heavy bleeding that can deplete the body of red blood cells. When the body loses red blood cells, an iron deficiency can develop. As the number of red blood cells decreases, the blood can no longer carry oxygen efficiency to the body\u2019s organs, and you may feel exhausted. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Talk to your doctor about iron supplements and avoiding problems such as anemia when you are undergoing cancer treatment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

8. Rapid Weight Loss
<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The loss of appetite that accompanies the development of cancerous cells can contribute to rapid weight loss. Since the tumor puts pressure on the gastrointestinal tract and can lessen the desire to eat, many people who suffer from cervical cancer tend to lose weight rapidly. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to the cytokines <\/a>that suppress the appetite, these proteins cause the body to break down fat at a faster speed and can cause the body to drop pounds. This happens because the body needs to access quick energy through fats to fight the illness, and this sudden need for energy causes rapid weight loss. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is not unusual to lose 5 to 10% of your body weight in 6 months if you are suffering from cervical cancer. A challenge many cancer sufferers have to face is to ensure that you eat enough even though you may not feel like it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

9. Fever<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

One of the most common symptoms of any <\/em>form of cancer is a fever<\/a>. This is something that many people don\u2019t realize \u2013 instead they tend to focus on the fact that cancer affects a specific organ or part of your body and makes you feel unwell in that area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The thing to understand though is that your body reacts to cancer in a similar way to any other illness. While the cause here is different (damage to cells, rather than some kind of foreign invader), the truth is that your body knows something is wrong and it\u2019s going to recruit the immune system in order to try and combat that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This has a number of effects, but among them is the fact that you will often start to feel a fever. This is due to the body trying to make the body less hospitable to things that should not be there. It\u2019s not damaging in itself, but it can be a sign that all is not well \u2013 and it is important that you keep drinking lots of water.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

10. Nausea<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Nausea <\/a>is another common symptom of cancers in general. The reason for this is that your body is once again doing everything it can in order to fight the problem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Partly, this is going to be redirecting blood and energy away from organs and other areas and instead of driving it into <\/em>the immune system. This becomes the top priority and therefore other tasks go on the back burner. That means that your stomach is going to receive less fuel and that your digestion might suffer as a result.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You might also find that nausea occurs due to the fact that your body is trying to force you to throw up any potential germs or toxins that you may have consumed.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

11.Spreading<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

One of the most serious things about cancer <\/a>is that it spreads exponentially and can quickly travel around the body unless it is stopped in its tracks. The further it spreads, of course, the more difficult it becomes to treat \u2013 which is why it\u2019s so important that you get to a doctor very quickly to have the condition examined.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The reason for this spreading is that cancer works by affecting the DNA housed in the cells. This DNA serves as the blueprint used to create new <\/em>cells each time they divide via mitosis. Therefore, if the DNA is damaged, then each fresh copy will also be damaged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The result is that cancer spreads, tumors grow, and eventually, this can even travel to other parts of the body via the blood or the bone marrow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You might, therefore, be able to ascertain whether the condition is in fact caused by cancer, by looking to see if your condition seems to be spreading. If the discomfort is growing for instance, or if you start to feel more generally unwell, then you should see someone immediately.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

12. Loss of Sex Drive<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Another common symptom of cervical cancer, though it isn\u2019t necessarily always a direct one, is the loss of sex drive. This happens for a number of reasons. For one, it happens because intercourse has become painful, and you will likely be experiencing pain in that region already.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the same time though, this loss of libido <\/a>can also be the result of a lack of proper sleep, of change to your mood, of fatigue, of nausea \u2013 in general, you won\u2019t find yourself feeling very well and you\u2019ll therefore not want to engage in sex.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Of course, there are many other reasons for this and you shouldn\u2019t necessarily assume that a change in libido is always a sign of something serious \u2013 still, it is always worth looking into.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

13. No Symptoms At All<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

As cervical cancer becomes more advanced, it can cause a wide variety of different and less expected symptoms. These can include things like constipation<\/a>, loss of bladder control, or blood in the urine. These symptoms are enough to alarm us to go to the doctor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unfortunately, though, cervical cancer can often be asymptomatic, to begin with \u2013 meaning that you might not realize that you have it until it reaches the more advanced stages. This is because the cervix is a \u2018neck of tissue\u2019 rather than an organ. And seeing as it doesn\u2019t play a role in the body as such, that means that you aren\u2019t going to see a change in function <\/em>once it becomes cancerous.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

14. Bleeding After Menopause<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Part of the challenge when looking at a condition like cervical cancer is that so many of the symptoms can have other innocuous causes \u2013 especially when it comes to the earlier ones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bleeding in between symptoms, for instance, could just mean that your periods have become less regular.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What you also need to consider at all times then is context. What other potential causes are there for this? Would you normally expect to see these symptoms?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the case of bleeding, there are certain scenarios where it would be far less likely to be regular menopause<\/a>. For instance, if you have been through the menopause, then you should be far more suspicious of spotting and other signs of blood. This rules out the possibility that it is a period, and also rules out other potential explanations such as an unknown pregnancy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In general, be careful when considering the symptoms of cancers \u2013 be thorough and look for clusters of symptoms that appear together.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\r\n

<\/div>