SIGNS AND
SYMPTOMS
Women with early cervical cancers and pre-cancers usually have
no symptoms. Symptoms often do not begin until a pre-cancer becomes a true
invasive cancer and grows into nearby tissue. When this happens, the most
common symptoms are:
·
Abnormal vaginal bleeding, such as
bleeding after sex (vaginal intercourse), bleeding after menopause, bleeding
and spotting between periods, and having longer or heavier (menstrual) periods
than usual. Bleeding after douching, or after a pelvic exam is a common symptom
of cervical cancer but not pre-cancer.
·
An unusual discharge from the vagina −
the discharge may contain some blood and may occur between your periods or
after menopause.
·
Pain during sex (vaginal intercourse).
These signs and symptoms can also be caused by conditions other
than cervical cancer. For example, an infection can cause pain or bleeding.
Still, if you have any of these problems, you should see your health care
professional right away − even if you have been getting regular Pap tests. If
it is an infection, it will need to be treated. If it’s cancer, ignoring
symptoms might allow it to progress to a more advanced stage and lower your
chance for effective treatment.
- Symptoms of advanced cervical cancer may include:
- Loss of appetite, weight loss, fatigue.
- Pelvic, back, or leg pain.
- Leaking of urine or feces from the vagina.
- Bone fracture.
Even better, don't wait for symptoms to appear. Be screened
regularly.
RISK FACTORS
Infection of the cervix
with human papillomavirus (HPV) is almost always the cause of
cervical cancer. Not all women with HPV infection, however, will develop
cervical cancer. Women who do not regularly have tests to detect HPV or
abnormal cells in the cervix are at increased risk of cervical cancer.
Other possible risk factors include the following:
·
Giving birth to many children.
·
Having many sexual partners.
·
Having first sexual intercourse at a young age.
·
Smoking cigarettes.
·
Using oral contraceptives ("the Pill").
PREVENTION
·
Avoid contact with the human papilloma virus (HPV)
Since HPV is the main cause of
cervical cancer and pre-cancer, avoiding exposure to HPV could help you prevent
this disease. HPV is passed from one person to another during skin-to-skin
contact with an infected area of the body. Although HPV can be spread during
sex − including vaginal, anal, and oral sex − sex doesn't have to occur for the
infection to spread. All that is needed is skin-to-skin contact with an area of
the body infected with HPV. This means that the virus can be spread through
genital-to-genital contact (without intercourse). It is even possible for a
genital infection to spread through hand-to-genital contact.
· DON'T SMOKE
·
GET VACCINATED: The Federal Advisory Committee on Immunization
Practices (ACIP)* recommends that females aged 11 to 12 routinely be vaccinated
for HPV with the full series of 3 shots. Females as young as age 9 may also
receive the HPV vaccine at the discretion of their doctors. ACIP also
recommended women ages 13 to 26 who have not yet been vaccinated get “catch-up”
vaccinations.
*The federal advisory committee on immunization practices (ACIP) is a group of medical and public health experts that develop recommendations on use of vaccines in the civilian population of the United States.
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