Knowing the most common symptoms of cervical cancer can help one get medical attention on time. Cervical cancer refers to cancer affecting the womb entrance. The cervix indicates the narrow portion of a woman’s lower uterus, popularly called the womb neck. This cancer occurs when the cells start to mutate inside a woman’s cervix, the portion connecting the vagina with the uterus. Cancer affects the cervix’s deeper tissues and can even spread to other body parts like the liver, lungs, bladder, rectum, and vagina.

Most of the cervical cancer cases in the world are caused due to infection by the HPV or human papillomavirus. This can be prevented through a vaccine. Since this cancer progresses slowly, if one knows the most common symptoms of cervical cancer, they can be treated on time and cured. With more and more advanced screening and Pap testing, the numbers of women losing their lives because of this cancer are steadily dwindling. Women between the age of 35-44 years are the most prone to this cancer type; 15% and more cases are in women above 65 years, especially those who have skipped routine testing.

Common symptoms of cervical cancer?
When the cancer is at an early stage, there are hardly any noticeable symptoms that can be a cause for worry. This is exactly why women need to undergo regular Pap screenings to detect abnormalities in cervix cells. These tests ensure that the cervix is regularly monitored and cancer can be treated as soon as possible.

When the symptoms do start to appear, they are as follow:

• Vaginal bleeding like post-sex vaginal bleeding, bleeding after menopause, spotting, or bleeding in between periods, having unusually long periods
• Unusual discharge from the vagina that may be foul-smelling and pink in color
• Pain and discomfort during sexual intercourse
• Pelvic pain
• Vaginal discharge having blood
• Trouble peeing
• Bone pain
• Kidney failure

Cervical cancer can metastasize and spread to other parts of the body like the pelvis and lymph nodes, or it can form tumors in other parts. Symptoms of advanced cervical cancer include:

• Fatigue
• Weight loss
• Leg pain and swelling
• Back pains
• Urine leakage or leakage of feces from the vagina
• Bone fractures

When should one call a doctor?
If one finds that there is bleeding after menopause, for instance, they should inform their gynecologist. They must also get in touch with a doctor in case they have started having very heavy bleeding during periods or bleeding episodes in between your cycles. Some women may even experience bleeding after sexual intercourse and while this may not be a cause for immediate concern, one must remember to inform their doctor about it, particularly if it is happening over and over again. When one experiences a lot of vaginal bleeding accompanied by weakness, or if one feels lightheaded and afraid that they may pass out, they must visit the emergency room.