Signs of Cervical Cancer That Demand Immediate Attention

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared cervical cancer as the fifth most commonly diagnosed cancer in the world, reporting an astounding number of 280,000 deaths in 2024. The large number comes as a surprise, but cervical cancer is also among the easiest to cure when caught in the early stages.

Most early symptoms are not a cause for immediate worry, as they could indicate manageable conditions like fibroids, hormonal changes, or infections. However, as these symptoms regularly overlap, ignoring them since they are “minor” causes delays that can do much more harm. In this blog, our experts will walk you through the early warning signs of cervical cancer, risk factors, types of cervical cancer and let you know when it’s time to visit a gynaecologist. Scroll through to learn more.

Early Warning Signs You Shouldn’t Ignore

Cancer, especially of the cervix, begins quietly in women’s bodies. Cervical cancer screening is one of the most foolproof methods to ensure no silent symptom is overlooked as a minor discomfort. Some of the symptoms you must never ignore are:

• Excess vaginal discharge with a foul smell.
• Irregular bleeding patterns after women are of reproductive age.
• Bleeding or spotting after menopause.
• Spotting or pain during sex (dyspareunia) or bleeding after sex.

Unlike other cancers, cervical cancer develops much more slowly, taking a period of 10 to 20 years to develop into invasive cancer. Experienced doctors recommend that testing for cancer of the cervix should be conducted regularly for women between 30 and 49 years. Here is a breakdown of risk based on your age, as per the National Cancer Institute Statistics:

If you test positive for HIV, you must get tested immediately for cervical cancer, regardless of age. Women with HIV are more susceptible to developing serious HPV infections, which can eventually lead to cancer if untreated. This is also why HPV vaccines are a must for girls between 9 and 14 years.

Women in the post menopause stage must consider sudden bleeding that refuses to stop after treatment as a major warning sign of cervical cancer and must visit a reliable well woman’s clinic as soon as possible.

Symptoms of Advanced Cervical Cancer

Did you know that advanced symptoms might sometimes be as easy to ignore as the early symptoms? Advanced cervical cancer symptoms in women include:

• Backache and lower abdominal pain: Ongoing physical discomfort that does not match up with your cycle or daily routine.
• Urinary incontinence and urgency: A major symptom that gets overlooked, as women regularly deal with these worries at any age or post-pregnancy.  
• Decrease in urine production: A final-stage symptom that indicates renal failure or a blockage.
• Significant weight loss and swelling of the lower limbs: Unexplained weight loss and swelling in the lower body, even though you have not made any significant changes to your diet or routine.
• Breathlessness: A symptom caused by anaemia or, in extreme cases, lung metastases, if the cancer of the cervix spreads to the lungs, causing blood clots or fluid buildup.

Most of these symptoms indicate that the cancer might have expanded beyond the cervix itself, demanding immediate attention from a specialist. At an older age, people rarely connect these symptoms to cervical cancer, which further delays treatment.

While cervical cancer rarely occurs when a woman is pregnant, there is never complete certainty. Women can consider getting the HPV vaccine for cancer prevention during pregnancy, as the vaccine does not harm the mother’s or baby’s health.

Risk Factors That Increase Your Chances Of Developing Cervical Cancer

Understanding the risks can help you make better decisions early to avoid bearing the consequences in the future. If you relate to any of these risk factors, you must visit a gynaecologist for a PAP smear to rule out the chances of developing cervical cancer:

1. HPV Infection

Human Papillomavirus, commonly known as HPV, is one of the biggest risk factors leading to cervical cancer. The virus infiltrates the body through tears in the cervix, occurring during sexual activity. If the body fails to destroy the infection, it infects the cervix’s skin cells, making them abnormal. HPV hinders the normal process of cell self-destruction, instead forcing the cells to become cancerous over a period of time. The infection leads to the production of oncoproteins, namely E6 and E7, causing cancerous cells to multiply significantly and alter DNA over the years. HPV does more harm to people with a weakened immune system.

2. Smoking

Experts observe that women who smoke are two times more likely to develop cervical cancer. Smoking harms the immune system, weakening it significantly, which prevents the body from fighting off an HPV infection. Dangerous substances like nicotine and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons cause cancerous cells to develop faster than usual. A weak immune system combined with harmful drugs leads to a higher chance of contracting cervical cancer.

3. Early Sexual Encounters or Multiple Partners

Women who are sexually active before they turn 18 years old are exposed to the risk of HPV much earlier. As the cervix is still maturing during adolescence, the body is more vulnerable to infections and cellular changes. Starting early gives the HPV infection more time to mature and can lead to cancer at a younger age than usual. Women who change partners frequently are at a higher risk of contracting HPV, directly increasing the risk of cervical cancer.

4. DES Exposure

Prenatal exposure to diethylstilbestrol (DES) affects the development of the fetus in the womb. DES was an artificial, man-made form of estrogen given to women between 1938 and 1971 to prevent miscarriages. The exposed fetus becomes vulnerable to issues like vaginal adenosis, or growth of abnormal tissues in the cervix, enhancing the risk of clear cell adenocarcinoma.  

5. Long-Term Use of Contraceptives & Other Medication

Extended use of contraceptives can cause a severe imbalance in hormonal levels, increasing the risk of cervical cancer for women who already have an HPV infection.

You can easily reduce the chance of cervical cancer by doing your best to avoid these risk factors.

Types & Stages of Cervical Cancer

There are three main types of cervical cancer, depending on the originating point of cancerous cells in the body. They include:

• Squamous Cell Carcinoma: The most common type; nine out of ten cases are caused by squamous carcinoma. It begins on the surface of the skin on the exterior of the cervix, mainly caused by HPV.
• Adenocarcinoma: Beginning in the mucus-producing glands of the cervix, adenocarcinomas are harder to detect; cancerous cells, affecting up to 25% of the population suffering from cervical cancer.
• Adenosquamous Carcinoma: A severe combination of the two types of cancer, adenosquamous carcinoma affects up to 5% of those suffering from cervical cancer.

The fourth, rarest kind of cervical cancer is small cell carcinoma, affecting less than 2% of the population. It is an aggressive kind of cancer that spreads quickly.

Cancer cells do not develop immediately in the cervix. Doctors believe that the cervix develops abnormal changes, which lead to cancer. These changes are classified under Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia (CIN), Squamous Intraepithelial Lesion (SIL), and dysplasia. This is exactly what is tested during an HPV test, where the cells are graded on a scale of 1 to 3, based on their appearance.

• CIN1 (Low SIL and mild dysplasia): Consists of cells that appear least abnormal, with a higher likelihood of transformation into normal cells.
• CIN2 or CIN3 (High SIL and moderate dysplasia): These cells appear abnormal and possess a higher chance of becoming cancerous.  

On becoming cancerous, there are four stages the cells go through if you miss out on getting treatment in time:

• Stage I: The disease remains confined to the cervix at this first stage.
• Stage II: Cancer spreads outside and to the tissue beside the cervix and the vagina. It does not affect the pelvis’ sidewalls yet.  
• Stage III: Cancer spreads to the lower portion of the vagina and affects the pelvis’ side walls as well.
• Stage IV: Cancer spreads beyond the vagina and can affect distant organs and tissue, mainly the lungs.

Don’t wait for this stage; read the next section to understand the crucial time for you to visit a specialist for treatment.

When Should You See a Gynaecologist Immediately?

Instead of waiting for symptoms to resolve on their own, contact a trusted gynaecologist clinic to book a consultation immediately if you notice:

• Unusual vaginal bleeding.
• Persistent pelvic or back pain.
• Bloody discharge or a peculiar odour.
• Pain during sex that does not reduce.

There’s no need to panic if you notice any of the above signs of cervical cancer. Early detection and treatment are the best way to beat cervical cancer at its root.

Conclusion

As most symptoms of cervical cancer overlap with those of common gynaecological conditions, it is necessary to visit one of the best private gynaecologists in London to check for the underlying cause of your worry. Regular Pap smears and HPV vaccinations, especially for women affected by HIV, can prevent cancer-related worries in the future. Besides these methods, you can also benefit from colonoscopy, biopsy, or an endocervical curettage (ECC). Visit a professional for further guidance.

FAQs

Mr Nilesh Agarwal

Mr Nilesh Agarwal (GMC: 6059455) is a highly esteemed consultant gynaecologist based in London, specialising in high-risk obstetrics, minimal access surgery, and fertility. With over 20 years of international experience, he provides comprehensive, patient-centred care for conditions including endometriosis, fibroids, and polycystic ovaries. Known for his holistic approach and clinical excellence, Mr Agarwal is dedicated to empowering women through tailored treatments. He currently practises at leading institutions, including the Clementine Churchill Hospital and the Hospital of St John & St Elizabeth.