early symptoms of cervical cancer

Written by Li Lin
Obstetrics and Gynecology
Updated on February 22, 2025
00:00
00:00

Cervical cancer in its early stages often has no obvious symptoms or signs. It is usually discovered when abnormal vaginal discharge, which may have an unpleasant odor or bloodstains, prompts a hospital visit. Upon examination, cervical cancer can be diagnosed. Another typical symptom may be light bleeding after sexual intercourse, which can also lead to discovery upon medical examination. Therefore, the best approach to detecting cervical cancer is to regularly undergo cervical cancer screenings to identify and treat any early changes, improving treatment outcomes.

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Xu Xiao Ming
Obstetrics and Gynecology
51sec home-news-image

Can cervical cancer be cured?

Cervical cancer can be treated with options including surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy. For Stage 1A1 cervical cancer, a conization surgery can be chosen; for stages from 1A2 up to before 2B, a radical hysterectomy with bilateral adnexectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy can be selected; if it is Stage 2B, where the cancer has spread to the parametrium, it is recommended to first undergo chemotherapy as preoperative neoadjuvant therapy to reduce the tumor size before proceeding with surgery; if the cancer has progressed to Stage 3A1 and beyond, radiotherapy or chemotherapy is recommended. In summary, surgical treatment can be chosen for cervical cancer before Stage 2B; if it is Stage 2B or later, involving the parametrium or the lower third of the vagina, surgery is generally not an option, and the treatment usually involves radiotherapy or chemotherapy.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Li Shun Hua
Obstetrics and Gynecology
34sec home-news-image

How to get the cervical cancer vaccine?

The cervical cancer vaccine is administered in the same way as regular vaccines, which is an injection in the deltoid muscle. However, the scheduling of the subsequent doses of the cervical cancer vaccine differs. For the bivalent cervical cancer vaccine, the second dose is administered one month after the first dose, and the third dose at six months. For the quadrivalent and nonavalent vaccines, the second dose is administered two months after the first, with the third dose given at six months.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Gong Chun
Oncology
56sec home-news-image

Causes of cervical cancer

The causes of cervical cancer are particularly associated with human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. The primary causes that can lead to precancerous lesions and cervical cancer itself, in a minority of cases, do not detect HPV DNA, especially in older patients. Epidemiological studies show that early childbirth and multiple childbirths are highly related to the incidence of cervical cancer; as the number of childbirths increases, the risk of cervical cancer also increases. Smoking can suppress the body's immune function and may promote cancer development. Men who have had penile cancer, prostate cancer, or previous cervical cancer are at high risk; therefore, women who have contact with high-risk men are also more susceptible to cervical cancer.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Li Lin
Obstetrics and Gynecology
48sec home-news-image

How is cervical cancer checked?

Cervical cancer screening begins with testing for the human papillomavirus (HPV) and a cervical cytology smear test. If abnormalities are found in these tests, a colposcopy examination is needed. Under colposcopy, suspicious cancerous areas are selected for a cervical biopsy, and the cervical tissue is sent for pathological sections. Based on the results of the pathology sections, it is determined whether the condition is a precancerous lesion of the cervix or cervical cancer. If cervical cancer is present, a clinical doctor must perform a gynecological internal examination to determine the stage of the cervical cancer, and then choose a treatment plan.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Gong Chun
Oncology
59sec home-news-image

Cervical cancer screening

For the examination of cervical cancer, it should be based on medical history and clinical manifestations, especially for people with contact vaginal bleeding, a detailed general examination and gynecological examination should be conducted, and an examination of cervical biopsy tissue is needed for diagnosis. What specific examinations are there? There are cervical scrape cytology tests, iodine tests, colposcopy, examination of cervical and cervical canal tissue, as well as post-surgical cervical conization, and examination of postoperative specimens. Therefore, there are indeed many examinations, including some radiological assessments such as enhanced CT, PADCT, MRI, and other such tests.