Unfortunately, women in the earliest stages of cervical cancer or experiencing pre-cancer occurrences do not have any symptoms that could help them identify the disease early. In fact, the early signs of cervical cancer are practically non-existent, as symptoms will only likely begin to develop after a pre-cancer condition has emerged into a truly invasive form of cancer that infects nearby tissues and muscles.
What's more, any of the early signs of cervical cancer an individual does notice can often be confused with other, more common conditions that produce the same symptoms. For instance, one of the most common signs of cervical cancer is irregular bleeding, but infections can cause the very same symptom. Still, if you begin to notice anything strange, or feel as though you have started to experience the early signs of cervical cancer, you should speak to your health care professional as early as possible. Even if you have been getting regular Pap smears, you will need to respond to the issue quickly.
Cervical Cancer and HPV:
In most circumstances, the human papillomavirus (HPV) is a precursor to cervical cancer, meaning that it is particularly important for individuals who feel they may have a risk of suffering from this form of cancer to know the symptoms of an HPV infection. HPV is a virus and it is possible for it to be transmitted sexually to another person, even if the original host did not show any symptoms. Similarly, not all strains of the HPV virus will cause visible symptoms. Only two strains, 11 and 6, will cause the formation of tiny bumps around the genitals that are typically itchy, or may even lead to a discharge or bleeding during sex.
When cervical cancer begins to grow through the uppermost layer of the cervical tissue or into the tissue below the cervix, this is known as invasive cervical cancer and this is where a majority of symptoms begin to appear.
Irregular Bleeding and Discharge:
One of the early signs of cervical cancer is irregular vaginal bleeding, which may occur after sex, or in between menstrual periods. Sometimes, this bleeding may only be very minor, and show up as slightly blood-streaked discharge that is dismissed frequently as spotting. In postmenopausal women, vaginal bleeding can also occur in individuals who have cervical cancer, and this should act as a major warning sign.
Other than bleeding, there are other types of vaginal discharge that may be classed as common symptoms for cancer of the cervix. Generally, these discharges will be continuously present, and could be brown, foul-smelling, watery, or pale.
Advanced Symptoms and Risk Factors:
To some degree, discharge and bleeding form the earliest signs of cervical cancer, and it is likely that more severe symptoms will begin to appear when the cancer progresses. For example, in advanced cases, patients may experience trouble urinating, pelvic or back pain, weight loss, fatigue, and swelling in the legs.
Remember that knowing the warning signs alongside risk factors can increase your chances of dealing with cervical cancer before it progresses too far. The more sexual partners you have, or the fact that you do not get vaccinated for HPV can increase your chances of becoming a victim of cervical cancer.