The cervix is the lower part of the uterus (womb), opening in to the vagina. Cervical cancer is one of the most common cancers of women. While there are many risk factors involved, one of the most common causes of cervical cancer is the virus called human papillomavirus (HPV). A person may contract the virus by sexual contact with another person who has the virus. Not all forms of the HPV virus can cause cervical cancer and some may even cause warts. Luckily, a vaccination is available for prevention of cervical cancer There may be various causes of cervical cancer apart from HPV: such as smoking, having multiple sexual partners or a weakened immune system.
What are the different Signs and Symptoms of Cervical Cancer?
Vaginal bleeding or spotting, especially in post-menopausal women is the most common symptom of cervical cancer. Sometimes there may be no symptoms until the disease has reached an advanced stage.
Some of the common signs and symptoms of cervical cancer may include:
- Abnormal or untimely vaginal bleeding (after sex, after menopause)
- Abnormal vaginal discharge (white or blood tinged)
- Pain while having sex
- In advanced cases, the cancer may spread to the abdomen, lungs or elsewhere and symptoms related to the organ may be the first symptom of the cancer
Upon reaching an advanced stage, the different signs for cervical cancer may include:
- Constant pain in the leg, pelvic region or back
- Problems while urinating because of blockage of kidney or ureter
- Weight loss
- Loss of appetite
- Anemia caused by excessive or abnormal vaginal bleeding
- Seepage of urine or stools through the vagina
- Fatigue
Stages of Cervical Cancer
- Screening for cancer cervix is done by a test called Pap smear, which detects pre-cancerous cells also. Cervical cancer can be detected at an early stage by a Pap Smear test. If the cancer has gone unnoticed, it can spread from the cervix to the vagina and into surrounding areas of the uterus. Further development in the stages of cervical cancer may include the cancer spreading to the pelvic lymph nodes and other pelvic organs. Eventually it may spread to other vital organs in the body such as kidney, liver and lungs.The cancer can spread through lymph system or blood. There are four stages of cervical cancer.
- Stage I – Cancer is limited to the cervix.
- Stage II – Cancer has spread beyond the cervix but hasn’t reached the pelvic wall.
- Stage III – Cancer has spread to the pelvic wall, lower third of the vagina and has caused problems in the kidneys.
- Since Cervical cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths among adult women,in the developing world, and the second most common cancer among women worldwide, preventive measures including getting pap smear for women/or vaccinated. Better still, it's important that you be honest with your partner about your sex history. immunizing all girls before becoming sexually active ideally aged nine to 13 years in order to lower the risk of HPV . But for a virus whose disease has no symptoms, the inefficacy of condoms allows for faster and wider spread, especially among those with multiple sex partners. The only 100% effective way to prevent HPV transmission is .. Abstinence from all sexual contact, including oral, anal, and vaginal sex. There are more than 10 types of HPV and about 13 0f these are cancer causing, with HPV types 16 and 18 causing approximately 70% all cervical cancer worldwide. sadly it's physically difficult to tell whether your partner has HPV virus unless they have private part warts, yet those who do not have visible signs can also spread the virus. The other interesting aspect of this particular virus is that you do not need to have sex for it's to be passed on from one person to another, the virus is found in the flora of the man-hood, scrotum, vagina, and anus of a person who has HPV. one can also get infected through kissing, or touching an infected sex organs.
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