People often panic just speaking and
thinking about cancer; after all, cancer is a deadly disease. However,
the good news is that cervical cancer falls into a different category.
As in, cancer that you can prevent and detect very early with regular
Pap tests. If you detect cervical cancer early, it’s one of the most
successfully treatable cancers.
Cervical cancer facts sheet
In 2014, the British Center for Cancer estimated that there were 265,000 deaths due to cervical cancer. In Europe alone, there were 24,000 deaths.
In the UK, for example, there are around 800 deaths due to cervical cancer per year, which is more than 2 deaths per day.
Of all cancer deaths, cervical cancer accounts for only 1%.
More than half of deaths due to cervical cancer are in females aged 65 and more.
Since the first signs of cervical cancer in the early 1970s, mortality rates have decreased by more than 70%.
Mortality rates of cervical cancer are expected to fall by an additional 7% by 2035.
Cervical cancer is more common in women living in deprived areas.
Prevention of cases with cervical cancer is close to 100%.
If you have cervical cancer, the chances of survival are almost 63%. Of course, that depends on the stage and type of cervical cancer
Signs of cervical cancer
Let’s take a look at some of the signs of cancer. It’s also worth noting that people rarely manifest symptoms in the early stages. And during the early stages, chances of survival are higher due to easier and more manageable treatment. That’s why it is important to schedule regular Pap tests.
The following symptoms and signs of cervical cancer manifest when the cancer cells grow through the top layer of your cervical tissue (invasive cervical cancer stage). I should also note that some of the symptoms may manifest due to other conditions as well (e.g., vaginal infections cause similar symptoms). However, don’t wait for the infections to clear.
Do not ignore the symptoms:
Irregular bleeding
This is the most common sign of invasive cervical cancer. There is no specific timetable when the bleeding might occur. It might happen between menstrual periods. It might happen just after sex. And vaginal bleeding can also happen in women post menopause (menopausal women should never bleed). That is why bleeding is one of the warning signs.
Another thing to note: irregular bleeding can sometimes be mistaken for spotting. The reason is simple. Bleeding sometimes shows as blood-streaked vaginal discharge.
Vaginal discharge
Vaginal discharge is another sign you should not ignore. There are different types of vaginal discharge, but when it comes to signs of cervical cancer, your discharge will have one of the following characteristics: white, watery, foul smelling, clear, brown, or tinged with blood.
In some rare cases, it’s usual to feel little pain during sex (e.g., if you are taking vaginal pessaries to treat an infection). But if you feel pain during sex for unusual and unexplainable reasons, check with your doctor.
Severe signs of cervical cancer
Here are some of the advanced symptoms that manifest:
- pelvic pain
- back pain
- swelling of legs
- weight loss
- difficulty urinating and/or defecating
- fatigue
- blood in the urine
- loss of bladder control
- loss of appetite
- constipation
- changes to bladder and bowel habits
- bone pain
Risk factors
There are a number of risk factors that contribute to women developing
cervical cancer. There are different risk factors for different cancer
types, and there are several cervical cancer risk factors that you can
avoid.
Human papilloma virus infection
Infection by HPV is one of the most common risk factors for cervical
cancer. HPV is not just one virus. It’s a group of more than 150
viruses, all of which can infect cells on the surface of the skin and
those lining the genitals. HPV cannot infect the blood or internal
organs. And HPV can be spread from one person to another during sexual
intercourse or other skin-to-skin contacts. HPV can spread even through
oral sex, not just through vaginal and anal.
Smoking
Smoking is another risk factor for cervical cancer. People around the
smoker are exposed to cancer-causing chemicals that affect more organs
than just the lungs. The chemicals are absorbed by the lungs, but then
the bloodstream carries them throughout the body. Women who smoke are
two times more likely to get cervical cancer.
Chlamydia infection
Another infection that increases your risk for cervical cancer is
chlamydia. As with HPV, chlamydia spreads through sexual intercourse and
can cause pelvic inflammation. Tests have shown higher chances for
cervical cancer in women who have had chlamydia in the past.
Diet low in fruits and vegetables
There is a reason why cervical cancer usually attacks women living in
third-world countries. A diet poor in vitamins, as in low in fruits and
vegetables, increases your chances for cancer. Without vitamins, your
body has few tools it can use in the fight against diseases.
Long-term use of oral contraceptives
The longer you consume oral contraceptives, the higher the risk is for
developing cervical cancer. However, it’s worth noting that the risk
goes down when a woman stops taking oral contraceptives. A few years
ago, the American Cancer Society suggested that doctors and women should
discuss the benefits as well as the risk of oral contraceptives. The
question is whether the benefits outweigh the risks.
Multiple full-term pregnancies
Doctors have yet to find a specific reason why women with three or more
full-term pregnancies have a higher risk of cervical cancer. Nobody has a
detailed theory. One theory is that because they were exposed to
unprotected sex, they were exposed to HPV. Hormonal changes also play a
role.
Prevention of cervical cancer
As mentioned in the beginning, the best way to treat cervical cancer is
early detection. There are two ways you can prevent and make sure that
you detect early.
The first one is a regular Pap test, or smear. This is the most reliable
screening test for cancer. Pap tests can detect abnormal cells on the
cervix, and early detection allows you to treat the cells before they
develop into cancer. Your gynecologist can perform a Pap smear test at
any routine pelvic exam. What does a Pap test involve? Swabbing the
cervix to collect cells. Later, those cells are examined under a
microscope. Your doctor can also perform an HPV test at the same time.
Vaccination is a controversial topic, but many doctors suggest that a
vaccination against HPV is the best way to prevent cervical cancer.
Vaccination is recommended for girls and women from 9 to 26 years old.
It is recommended that women are vaccinated before they become sexually
active. Men also carry the HPV virus, so they should also talk to their
doctor about a vaccination.
