Cervical cancer symptoms

This vaccine can prevent most cases of cervical cancer if the vaccine is given before girls or women are exposed to the virus. This vaccine can also prevent vaginal and vulvar cancer. In addition, the vaccine can prevent genital warts, anal cancers, and mouth, throat, head and neck cancers in women and men. In theory, vaccinating boys against the types of HPV associated with cervical cancer might also help protect girls from the virus by possibly decreasing transmission. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that the HPV vaccine be given to girls and boys between ages 11 and 12. It can be given as early as age 9. It's ideal for girls and boys to receive the vaccine before they have sexual contact and are exposed to HPV. Research has shown that receiving the vaccine at a young age isn't linked to an earlier start of sexual activity. Once someone is infected with HPV, the vaccine might not be as effective. Also, response to the vaccine is better at younger ages than it is at older ages. The CDC recommends that all 11- and 12-year-olds receive two doses of HPV vaccine at least six months apart. Younger adolescents ages 9 and 10 and teens ages 13 and 14 also can receive vaccination on the two-dose schedule. Research has shown that the two-dose schedule is effective for children under 15. Teens and young adults who begin the vaccine series later, at ages 15 through 26, should receive three doses of the vaccine. The CDC recommends catch-up HPV vaccinati...

Early signs of cervical cancer Although some patients don’t experience any symptoms until cervical cancer has advanced, it may be possible to notice signs at an early stage. These include: Vaginal bleeding Sometimes cervical cancer mimics menstrual bleeding. Bleeding that seems different in any way should be reported to a doctor. • A longer or heavier menstrual cycle than usual • Spotting or bleeding between periods • Bleeding after menopause, especially if many months or years have passed since the last period Pelvic pain Women may experience • Some feel pain in their back, particularly in the lower back • It may feel like a sharp pain or pressure, located anywhere around the lower abdomen, below the belly button. Vaginal discharge changes It's normal and healthy to have a vaginal discharge that’s clear, milky or slightly yellowish in color. But changes in color, consistency and/or odor should be investigated. Women should watch for these discharge changes, which may possibly be related to cervical cancer: • Discharge that looks red-tinged from small amounts of blood • An increase in the amount of discharge. Pain during sex Some people experience pain during intercourse, or some bleeding afterward. All of these cervical cancer symptoms should be discussed with a doctor. According to the Advanced cervical cancer symptoms Cervical cancer may spread ( • Leg pain that feels like a persistent sharp or dull ache • Swelling in the legs • Weight loss • Fatigue • Back pain • Leaka...

The stirrups... the speculum... the jelly that your gyno never seems to get totally cleaned up. Yeah, Paps are a (somewhat literal) pain, but cervical cancer was once the number-one leading cause of cancer death in American, according to the Still, the “In fact, one of the biggest risk factors of getting cervical cancer is not having had a Pap smear within the past five years," says Eloise Chapman-Davis, M.D., a gynecological oncologist at Weill Cornell Medicine and New York-Presbyterian. However, she notes that you shouldn’t just rely on a Pap to flag any issues. It's also important to watch out for cervical cancer symptoms, which can develop in cases of more developed cancer growths. Translation: If you spot any symptoms of cervical cancer, it's worth talking to your gyno and getting checked out asap. 1. Totally Not-Normal Vaginal Bleeding “One of the most common symptoms of cervical cancer is vaginal bleeding, whether it’s in between your periods, after sex, or after menopause,” says 2. Periods That Are Heavy AF This isn’t about your period lasting a day longer or suddenly seeming a bit darker. “Rather, it’s your period all of sudden lasting two weeks instead of four days, or having two periods in one month,” says Shirazian. But to play it safe, it you have any changes in your cycle that last for at least two cycles (heavier, lighter, whatever!), it's worth talking to your gynecologist, she says. 3. WTF-Worthy Vaginal Discharge Discharge is totally normal, but the type ...

Cervical cancer is the growth of abnormal cells in the lining of the cervix. The most common cervical cancer is squamous cell carcinoma, accounting for 70% of cases. It is estimated that more than 900 people were diagnosed with cervical cancer in 2022. The average age at diagnosis is 49 years old. The incidence of cervical cancer has significantly decreased since the National Cervical Screening Program began in 1991 and a national Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccine program was introduced in 2007. Learn more about how Cancer Council researchers are Cervical cancer signs and symptoms Precancerous changes in cervical cells rarely cause symptoms. The only way to know if there are abnormal cells that may develop into cancer is to have a cervical screening test. If early cell changes develop into cervical cancer, the most common signs include: • vaginal bleeding between periods • menstrual bleeding that is longer or heavier than usual • pain during intercourse • bleeding after intercourse • pelvic pain • a change in your vaginal discharge such as more discharge or it may have a strong or unusual colour or smell • vaginal bleeding after menopause. These symptoms can be caused by other conditions but if you are worried or symptoms persist, contact your doctor. This is important for anyone with a cervix, whether you are straight, lesbian, gay bisexual or transgender. Causes of cervical cancer Almost all cases of cervical cancer are caused by persistent infection with some high-ris...

What Causes Cervical Cancer? Persistent infection with high-risk strains of HPV The vast majority of sexually active people will acquire an HPV infection at some point in their lives, and about half of these infections are with high-risk strains. HPV16 and HPV18 are the two most common strains that cause most cervical cancers. The main types of cervical cancer are squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma: • Up to 90% of cervical cancers are squamous cell carcinomas, developing from cells in the exocervix; these cancers usually start where the exocervix (the part of the cervix opening into the vagina) joins with the endocervix (the part of the cervix opening into the uterus), called the transformation zone. • Adenocarcinomas start in glandular cells; in the endocervix, these are the cells that make mucus. • Rarer cervical cancers are mixed carcinomas or cancers that have characteristics of both of the above types; these are also called adenosquamous carcinomas. Cervical Cancer Stages The stages of cancer describe how far the cancer has spread in a person’s body. The stage of the cancer also helps to guide treatment decisions. The • Stage 1: Cancer is in the cervix only. It is separated into stages IA and IB, depending on how deep the cancer is. • Stage 2: Cancer has either spread to the upper two-thirds of the vagina or the surrounding vaginal tissues. It is divided into substages depending on the size of the tumor and the spread of cancer. • Stage 3: The cancer has sprea...

Before treatment, you and your doctor should discuss if you wish to get pregnant in the future. Stage 1 cervical cancer treatments vary, based on your desire to maintain fertility. Treatment will also be determined by any spread of cancerous cells into the blood, lymphatic vessels, or nearby tissues. Cancer that has spread into the blood or lymph vessels will require removal of the pelvic lymph nodes and, in some instances, a radical trachelectomy. Radical trachelectomy is the removal of most of the cervix, plus the upper vagina. Your uterus will be left intact. Neither of these procedures affects fertility potential. • Stage 3A: The cancer has spread to the lower vagina, but not the pelvic walls. • Stage 3B: The cancer has spread to the pelvic walls. The tumor or tumors may also be large enough to cause hydronephrosis (excess fluid in the kidney due to backup of urine). • Stage 3C1: The tumor is of any size and has spread into the pelvic lymph nodes. • Stage 3C2: The tumor is of any size and has spread to the para-aortic lymph nodes. It's important to remember that relative five-year survival rates are estimates, not prophecies. Many people live far longer than the numbers indicate. These estimates are also based on the experiences of people who had this condition at least five years ago. They don’t take newer treatments or data from recent clinical trials into account. • National Cancer Institute Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program. • Memorial Sloan Kette...

People rarely have symptoms of cervical cancer in its early stages. This is why it’s so important to get a regular Pap test to ensure early detection and treatment of precancerous lesions. The symptoms typically only appear when the cancer cells grow through the top layer of cervical tissue into the tissue below it. This occurs when the precancerous cells are left untreated and progress to invasive cervical cancer. At this point, people sometimes mistake common symptoms as being benign, such as irregular vaginal bleeding and vaginal discharge. Irregular bleeding Vaginal bleeding can also occur in Vaginal discharge Along with bleeding, many people also begin to experience unusual • white • clear • watery • • foul smelling • tinged with blood Advanced symptoms While bleeding and discharge may be early signs of cervical cancer, more severe symptoms will develop in later stages. Symptoms of advanced cervical cancer can include: • • • • fatigue • weight loss HPV is transmitted through sexual contact. Transmission occurs when the skin or mucous membranes of an infected person makes physical contact with the skin or mucous membrane of a person who isn’t infected. In most cases, the infection doesn’t cause symptoms, which makes it easy to unknowingly transfer the virus to another person. Over 40 different strains of HPV are transmitted sexually, but only a few strains of the virus produce visible symptoms. For example, Knowing the warning signs as well as your risks increases your...