The uterine cervix, which is the lowest area of the uterine lining, is an important part of the woman’s reproductive system. It connects the vagina with the womb. Any cancerous condition is alarming for a woman. Having said that, very few women are aware of cervical cancer conditions. It happens when the cervical cells begin developing on other organs of the body in an unusual way.
The invasive cancer cells have a deeper negative impact on the cervix tissues, which eventually spreads to the other organs of the body. In most cases, this cancer is seen getting affected by other organs such as the vagina, lungs, rectum, liver, and bladder.
Nevertheless, the growth of cervical cancer is slow, and hence, its precancerous stages allow the victim to take preventive measures, early detection, and get it treated. The US has observed that the early and accurate detection of cervical cancer has made it possible to achieve a decline in the victim’s number.
Cervical cancer is most likely to be diagnosed between 20 to 40 years. However, there are also cases wherein women in the early 50s have become the victim of this disease.
Causes of Cervical Cancer?
When you observe abnormal changes in the cervical tissue, it is a primary sign of cancer. If the cervix gets infected with HPV, it increases the risks of having abnormal changes in the area. Additionally, having multiple sexual partners, getting early sexual contact can increase the risks of cervical cancer.
Due to unnecessary exposure given to HPV, such factors increase the risk of cancer. Genital warts and skin warts and other such skin disorders occur because of certain types of HPV. This can have a negative impact on cervical cells, which gradually results in cancer.
Areas such as penis, tonsils, tongue, anus, vagina, vulva can have risks of cancer because of certain types of HPV problems. Recent studies have found that cervical tissues can have genetic material which is associated with the disease.
Also, the study suggested that women with HPV have more risks of getting cervical cancer. If a girl gets into sexual activity at an early stage ( soon after she hits puberty), then such a woman is more likely to develop cervical cancer.
Smoking can also affect the cervix area, eventually leading to cancer issues. When you smoke, the cervix cells react to the components of cigarettes. As a result, it causes
precancerous changes having risks of developing it to a cancer stage. Women who smoke are more likely to develop cervical cancer than the ones who don’t.
Symptoms of cervical cancer:
Just like many other cancer types, the symptoms of this disease do not typically show at the early phase. You only come to know after it has grown to a severe phase. If you observe the following changes, this cancer is in its serious stage.
- Pain in the cervical area.
- Vaginal bleeding which is not a menstrual period
- Odd vaginal discharge
- Pain in the abdominal area
- Kidney failure
- Urinary tract diseases
It is important to understand when to seek medical help with respect to cervical cancer. The following are the changes which you shouldn’t ignore health.
Vaginal bleeding can occur due to various reasons. However, cervical cancer is said to be one of the prominent reasons behind it. If you notice bleeding from the vagina, it is important to get checked. The doctor can study your fertility issues and medical history and understand if you are diagnosed with cervical cancer.
If you have already had menopause, your menstrual bleeding stops. If you observe vaginal bleeding despite crossing the menopause phase, you should be seeing the doctor at the earliest.
Most women don’t monitor their menstrual bleeding. You should observe your menstrual bleeding one in a while. If you observe it to be oddly heavier than the normal menstruation, you should inform your healthcare provider as soon as possible.
Another sign of the disease is bleeding after sexual intercourse. This is especially the case for women who have multiple sexual partners. If your partner is vigorous with penetration, that can also lead to bleeding after sexual intercourse.
The bottom line:
You need not fear if the bleeding is not a frequent thing. As they say, precaution is always better than cure, and hence it is advised to see a doctor if you come across any such change.
In some cases, vaginal bleeding is followed by weakness, headache, or the woman passes out. In such conditions, immediate medical attention or hospital admission is required.
Early detection and its treatment is the best possible solution for addressing cervical cancer.Women are advised not to neglect any cancerous symptoms, as mentioned above. When you address these symptoms at an early stage, you can take preventive measures for the same.