How Will I Know the Signs of Cervical Cancer?

Signs of cervical cancer are not always present. This is especially true of the earliest stages. This is because changes in the cervical cells or abnormalities of these cells in most cases do not produce any symptoms.

Not all cell abnormalities or changes will lead to cervical cancer however if these abnormal cells also known as dysplasia are left untreated for extended periods of times they can turn cancerous. After turning cancerous they can spread beyond the cervix into other areas of the body making treatment much more difficult. In some cases cells affected by dysplasia may turn back to normal cells without any form of treatment however it is best to let a doctor determine the chances of this happening.

In order to detect abnormal cell growth and formation it is recommended that girls begin receiving regular screening by a qualified health care professional around the age of 13-15 years. This screening is commonly called a pap smear and this is how most cases of cervical cancer are detected. This test determines if the cells present are normal or show signs of abnormality. When these abnormal cells are caught in the very early stages treatment is usually quite simple and the progression to cervical cancer can be prevented.

Although signs of cervical cancer are not always present early on they may be in some cases as well as in more advanced stages of cervical cancer. For this reason it is important to know what signs to be aware of in association with cervical cancer. Some of the symptoms you may notice are loss of appetite, unexplained weight loss, vaginal bleeding after sex or douching, unusual bleeding between periods or after menopause, bloody or smelly discharge, fatigue, pain during or after sex and pelvic or leg pain. Although these symptoms may not be indicative of cervical cancer in all cases they are still signs that there is a problem and should be dealt with. Any unusual occurrences within your body should be brought to the attention of your health care provider for prompt diagnosis and discussion of treatment options.

If you have experienced any of the signs of cervical cancer or any other symptoms that you feel are unusual or not explained by some other illness or condition it is important that you seek the advice of your family’s health care professional in order to determine the necessity of further action. Further testing may be necessary to determine the presence of cervical cancer. If cervical cancer is found and diagnosed it will then become necessary to determine how advanced it has become. Once this has been done your doctor will discuss treatment options with you. Treatment options will vary from one person to another as not everyone will respond to certain treatments in the same way. In order to determine which treatment will be most effective in your specific case several factors will be considered such as age, general health and stage of cancer. Some treatments may be less effective in advanced stages of cervical cancer.