Cervical Cancer: Early Symptoms, Causes & Prevention

Cervical cancer is a malignant neoplasm found in the cervix or in the area of the cervix. Malignant refers to 'bad' or cancerous and neoplasm is an irregular mass of tissue. The term malignant is congruent with cancer.

Causes of Cervical Cancer

• Human papillomavirus infection is the one known direct cause of cervical cancer. The human papillomavirus also referred to as HPV is an infection that attacks the membranes and walls of the vagina, anus, cervix and vulva in women. The attack of these membranes with the HPV infection has been directly tied to cervical cancers in women and cancers of the penis and anus in men. Over 20 million people are affected by the HPV in the United States alone.

Prevention/Solution

• Some vaccinations for HPV can prevent cervical cancer caused by the virus. These vaccinations are called Cervarix and Gardasil and can prevent infection of the HPV types that cause cervical cancer.

Treatment

• No cure exists for cervical cancer or HPV which is the leading cause of cervical cancer. There are treatment options. Treatment options focus on the symptoms of HPV. Cryotherapy is used to treat cervical cancer. Cryotherapy is the use of liquid nitrogen to freeze any abnormal cells in the cervix.

First Symptoms

• Rarely are there early symptoms of cervical cancer. In fact early stages of cervical cancer are usually completely asymptomatic. Early stages of cervical cancer may present vaginal bleeding. An irregular pap smear may be the first symptom of cervical cancer. Also a first symptom of cervical cancer may be pain experienced during intercourse as well as vaginal discharge.

Additional Considerations

• First symptoms of advanced cervical cancer can range from weight loss and loss of appetite to fatigue, leg and back pain, pelvic pain, urine or feces discharge from the vagina and heavy bleeding from the vagina. First symptoms of advanced cervical cancer are more likely to be noticed than first symptoms of early stage cervical cancer.