Symptoms of cervical cancer

The Symptoms Of Cervical Cancer

Cancer, through all the forms that it manifests itself in the human body, is the second biggest cause of death in the Western World, behind heart disease. Cancers develop when cells, no matter where they are situated in the body, begin a process which will eventually see them begin to grow out of control. These abnormal cells will become cancerous.

A form of cancer that grows in the cervix, the lower, narrow part of the female uterus or womb, Cervical cancer can be fatal if not treated early enough.
Women in their late teens to old age are at risk from cervical cancer. No body knows exactly why the lesions that cause cervical cancer form in the womb. Females who are especially susceptible to the is disease, are those who have given birth, smokers and who suffered from any form of sexually transmitted disease, Women who been taking birth control pills are also on the list of those who stand a more than average chance of being diagnosed with cervical cancer.

The symptoms of cervical cancer are hard to detect in the very early stages of cervical cancer the disease. The reason is the cancerous cells in the womb grow and multiply really slowly. The symptoms only really show once the disease is beginning to spread through the sufferer's pelvic region.

The first and most prominent system is heavy vaginal bleeding, which can be erratic. Many women misconstrue this symptom as being a disturbance in their menstrual cycle, and tend to ignore it. Others, who have the good sense to consult their family doctor or health center, are usually sent for a pap test. A negative pap test will see the patient beginning a course of treatment for cervical cancer. Her quick thinking may well have saved her life.

If the disease is allowed to continue unchecked, then the bleeding will continue. Later the undiagnosed cancer sufferer will be begin to experience further symptoms as follows.

Cervical cancer causes vaginal discharges that are often foul smelling and contain traces of blood.
The cervix cancer sufferer will begin to experience pain during and after sexual intercourse. Both from the vagina or other pelvic regions.
An unusual swelling may be experienced in one leg only

These are the symptoms that should eventually bring the patient to her doctor for advice and treatment. A coloscopy will be ordered by the doctor treating the case. This will be to confirm that there are indeed cancerous cells in the cervix and, how far have they spread. Ultimately the patient will have to undergo surgery, to removed all or part of the infected womb, and some of the tissue surrounding it.

After the surgical treatment has been completed the patient will have to go through a long and uncomfortable chemotherapy treatment course.

Cancer