What are the causes of cervical cancer?

Written by Yan Chun
Oncology
Updated on May 01, 2025
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Clinically, the causes of cervical cancer include the following aspects:

First, the incidence of cervical cancer significantly increases in women who start sexual activity at an early age or have multiple sexual partners.

Second, genetic factors also play a certain role in the development of cervical cancer.

Third, the female population with malnutrition or chronic inflammatory diseases of the cervix can also lead to a high incidence of cervical cancer.

Fourth, women with sexually transmitted diseases, such as gonorrhea and genital warts, can also cause cervical cancer.

Fifth, some women with viral infections may also undergo carcinogenic changes in the cervix, thus forming cervical cancer.

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Written by Yan Chun
Oncology
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Will the cervix rot in the late stages of cervical cancer?

In late-stage cervical cancer, some patients experience severe local tumor infiltration which can lead to tissue necrosis. This necrosis often leads to secondary infections, thereby causing severe complications such as septic shock. In treating such patients, in addition to administering anti-tumor therapies, the primary treatment involves the use of antibiotics to control the infection, to prevent potentially fatal complications such as septic shock. Furthermore, the disease in most patients with late-stage cervical cancer typically presents as widespread dissemination. This dissemination is primarily manifested by metastasis to distant lymph nodes and infiltration of surrounding tissues, as well as metastasis to remote organs like the lungs, liver, and other abdominal organs. Clinically, patients mainly exhibit symptoms related to these metastatic sites.

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Written by Gong Chun
Oncology
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Self-exam method for cervical cancer

There aren't many methods for self-examination of cervical cancer. If symptoms such as vaginal bleeding or discharge occur, it is crucial to visit a hospital for a gynecological examination promptly. Of course, the diagnosis of cervical cancer should still rely on the examination by specialist doctors at hospitals. There are cytological examinations of cervical scrapings available, as well as examinations of cervical and endocervical tissue to confirm whether it is cervical cancer or not. Particularly, the examination of cervical and endocervical tissue is the main basis for confirming cervical cancer. Therefore, we should still undertake pathological examinations to confirm whether it is cervical cancer or not, rather than relying solely on self-examination to diagnose cervical cancer.

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Written by Gong Chun
Oncology
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Late-stage symptoms of cervical cancer

The symptoms of advanced cervical cancer start with vaginal bleeding. In the later stages, the bleeding becomes irregular and possibly heavy. The second symptom is vaginal discharge. In advanced stages, due to cancerous tissue necrosis accompanied by infection, there can be a large amount of foul-smelling, watery, or purulent discharge. The third point about advanced symptoms depends on the extent of the cancerous area involved. Secondary symptoms may appear depending on the adjacent tissues, organs, and nerves affected, including frequent urination, urgency, constipation, swelling and pain in the lower limbs. When the tumor compresses or involves the ureter, it can cause ureteral obstruction, hydronephrosis, and uremia. In the advanced stages, patients may experience symptoms of systemic failure like anemia and cachexia.

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Written by Gong Chun
Oncology
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Cervical Cancer Staging Criteria

For the staging of cervical cancer, the staging criteria of the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) are now adopted. Staging should be done before treatment, and since the FIGO staging of the cervix mainly relies on the examination of the pelvis, it is emphasized that the pelvic examination must be performed by two senior gynecologic oncologists. The staging primarily involves assessing the size of the cervical lesion, particularly the measurement of endophytic tumors, parametrial tissue infiltration, and the status of pelvic lymph nodes. However, these stages mainly rely on radiological examinations, primarily magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), to provide objective data for staging.

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Written by Gong Chun
Oncology
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Characteristics of Bleeding in Cervical Cancer

The bleeding characteristics of cervical cancer should be considered based on the pathological type and stage of the disease. In the early stages, the bleeding may be contact-related, occurring after sexual intercourse or a gynecological examination, and may involve a small amount of fresh, light bleeding. As the disease progresses into the later stages, the tumor may cause irregular vaginal bleeding. The amount of this irregular bleeding varies, depending on the size of the lesion and the involvement of the blood vessels in the interstitial tissues. A larger lesion may naturally result in more bleeding. In advanced stages, major blood vessels may be affected, potentially leading to severe bleeding. Therefore, the characteristics of vaginal bleeding should be analyzed based on the specific circumstances. If the cancer is exophytic, bleeding tends to occur earlier and is usually more copious, whereas if it is endophytic, bleeding tends to occur later.