Cervical cancer is a devastating disease that affects thousands of women every year, it is a severe and life-threatening illness that can have a significant impact on women’s health and if the symptoms of this disease are detected on time it can prevent a lot of further health complications. Thus, early detection and diagnosis are essential in treating and managing this serious health condition. It’s important to be aware of cervical cancer symptoms, as they can provide key indicators to the onset and progression of the disease. In this article, we will discuss common signs and symptoms associated with cervical cancer, how to identify them, and when it’s best to seek medical help.

When we talk about symptoms indicating one might have cervical cancer then one thing you should remember is that during the early stages symptoms or pain cannot be seen which is why regular pelvic exams and some tests that your doctor might suggest you perform to mark this cancer should be done.

The symptoms start beginning when the cancer becomes larger and grows in the nearby tissue, when this happens you will see symptoms like:

• Abnormal vaginal bleeding such as: after intercourse, after menopause, spotting between periods, and periods longer or heavier than usual.
• Increased vaginal discharge and foul odour
• Unexplained, persistent pelvic and/or back pain
• Pain during sexual intercourse
• Fatigue, loss of weight and appetite, and a general feeling of illness
• A swollen abdomen, nausea, vomiting, and constipation

Signs and symptoms of the advanced disease:

• Swelling of the legs
• Problems urinating or having a bowel movement
• Blood in the urine

Bottom line:

Cervical cancer if diagnosed on time can be treatable, thus early diagnosis and recognising the symptoms as soon as possible is very necessary. Any of these symptoms should be reported to your doctor. If these symptoms appear, it is important to talk to your physician about them even if they appear to be symptoms of other conditions. The earlier the precancerous cells or cancer in the cervix is found and treated, the better the chance that cancer can be prevented or cured. Remember one thing! Get regular checkups done rather than sitting and waiting for the symptoms to appear.