Symptoms of Cervical Cancer:
Causes and Signs to Watch For
Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer in India and accounts for the second highest number of deaths among all cancer patients. Judging by the number of deaths that are attributed to cervical cancers it would be fair to assume that it is a particularly deadly form of cancer which progresses fast, often leaving its victims very little time to react and is difficult to successfully cure. But what if we told you:
Symptoms Of Cervical Cancer i. Cervical Cancer is one of the slowest progressing cancers
ii. Cervical Cancer has one of the highest 5-year survival rate if detected early
iii. Cervical Cancer is one of the few cancers which has a strong preventive vaccination availableBut if all of the above is true, what explains the high number of deaths due to Cervical Cancer? The answer is simply a lack of awareness about cervical cancer. Cervical cancer is often called a silent killer because it takes a long time to develop and does not give any obvious symptoms till later stages. This means that by the time it is detected, the cancer will have progressed very far and treating it becomes complex.
What Causes Cervical Cancer?
90% of cervical cancers are caused by HPV (human papillomavirus) infection in the cervical tract. HPV is present in most individuals who have had sex and in normal circumstances the human body can deal with this virus on its own. However, in a very tiny number of cases, the HPV persists long enough in the body and starts to damage the cells in the cervix. And that is the start of Cervical Cancer. It’s a common fallacy that since men don’t have a cervix they shouldn’t worry about cervical cancers. The fact is that HPV infections can and do occur among men and impact other organs like the throat, mouth and penis.
What are the Cervical Cancer symptoms in various stages?
Dysplasia is the beginning of HPV infection that eventually causes cervical cancer. At this stage, the cancer is completely curable. Cervical dysplasia will typically not have any symptoms and thus can go undetected for a long time. It is recommended for women in the age group of 30-65 to undergo screening tests like Pap Smear every 2-3 years to make sure that the onset of cervical cancer can be detected early.
Stage 1 Cervical Cancer is when the cancerous cells start moving from the surface to deeper cervical tissue. At this stage, the cancer is localised and has not spread outside of the cervix to other organs and tissues.
The symptoms of stage 1 cervical cancer are bleeding in between periods and pain in the pelvic region. These symptoms are often ignored by women. However, if the cancer is caught at this stage the 5-year survival rate is over 90%. It is important not to ignore any symptoms, however minor they might appear. Better safe than sorry is the mantra.
Stage 2 Cervical Cancer is when the cancer has spread but is still contained in the cervix and uterus. At this stage, apart from irregular bleeding there is bleeding after sex, bleeding even in post-menopausal women, abnormal vaginal discharge along with pelvic pain. These symptoms are much more noticeable than stage 1 symptoms. If the cancer is detected at this stage the chances of being cured are around 60%. And yet a large number of women ignore these signs. Most women come for a medical opinion at stage 3 of cervical cancer.
Stage 3 of Cervical Cancer at this stage the cancerous cells have spread to lower parts of the vagina or pelvic wall. At this stage the tumour might start to block ureters, the tubes that carry urine from the kidneys to your bladder and therefore one of the most common symptoms of stage 3 cervical cancer, apart from symptoms of stages 1& 2, is a problem in urination and blood in urine. This is often accompanied with loss of weight, swelling in legs and back pain. At this stage, the survival rate reduces to 35%.
Stage 4 of cervical Cancer is when the cancer has spread to other organs outside of the uterus and metastasized. At this stage coughing blood, persistent fatigue, shortness of breath and weakening of bones sets in. These symptoms are extremely difficult to miss. This is a very advanced stage of cervical cancer but survival is not impossible. About 17% of women survive this stage too.
Don’t wait for the Cervical Cancer symptoms to appear. Vaccination and Screenings are your best defence
While it is always good to look out for symptoms, the fact remains that you might not notice them or the symptoms might not even appear as clearly as mentioned in this article. The best defence against Cervical Cancer is to get vaccinated. This will reduce the chances of you and your loved ones suffering by 90%. The vaccines are available in most hospitals, including government hospitals and can be taken in the age group of 9 to 45. The earlier in life the vaccination is taken, the more effective it is going to be. Vaccinations should be taken by boys and men too.
Apart from vaccination, the other step you can take to protect against cervical cancer is regular screenings like Pap Smear tests and HPV screenings. It is recommended that women in the age group of 30 to 65 get these screenings every two to three years. This should be done even if you have been vaccinated, as vaccinations can significantly reduce but not eliminate the risk of cervical cancer.
Conclusion
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