What Are The Symptoms Of Cervical Cancer?
I had a smear test booked for this Tuesday, but I had to cancel it as I came on. I’m bleeding very heavily every two weeks, plus I have all the risk factors for cervical cancer. Please help as I am very concerned.
Dawsey2k said,
February 24, 2010 @ 1:26 pm
| health information | health factsheets
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Cervical cancer
Published by Bupa’s health information team, February 2009.
This factsheet is for women who have cervical cancer, or who would like information about it.
Cervical cancer develops if the cells of the cervix (the neck of the womb) become abnormal and grow out of control.
Animation – How cancer develops
About cervical cancer
Types of cervical cancer
Symptoms of cervical cancer
Causes of cervical cancer
Diagnosis of cervical cancer
Treatment of cervical cancer
Prevention of cervical cancer
Help and support
Questions and answers
Related topics
Related Bupa products and services
Further information
Sources
How cancer develops
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About cervical cancer
In 2005, around 2,800 women were diagnosed with cervical cancer in the UK.
Deaths from cervical cancer in the UK have fallen over the last 20 years. This reduction is mainly because of the NHS cervical screening programme which may detect changes in the cells of the cervix at a pre-cancerous stage. If abnormal cells are caught early, cancer can be prevented or treated.
The changes can be detected by a laboratory test on a small sample of cells. The cells are taken from an area called the transformation zone on the surface of your cervix, and preserved using a procedure called liquid-based cytology.
The cervix and transformation zone
Types of cervical cancer
There are two main types of cervical cancer – squamous cell cancer (the most common) and adenocarcinoma, although they are often mixed. They are named after the types of cell that become cancerous. Squamous cells are flat cells covering your cervix; adenomatous cells are found in the passageway from your cervix to your womb. Other rarer cancers of the cervix include small cell cancer.
Symptoms of cervical cancer
Abnormal cells found on the cervix during a cervical screening test are usually at an early pre-cancer stage, and don’t cause any symptoms. Treating the abnormal cells prevents cancer developing.
If abnormal cells do develop into cervical cancer, you may have the following symptoms:
abnormal vaginal bleeding, for example between periods or after sex
smelly vaginal discharge
discomfort during sex
vaginal bleeding after the menopause
These symptoms aren’t always due to cervical cancer, but if you have them, you should visit your GP.