Symptoms of cervical cancer through 4 stages

Cervical cancer causes vaginal bleeding, heavy discharge, pelvic pain in the early stages and is easily confused with gynecological diseases, so it is often detected late.

Cervical cancer is a malignancy that arises from the cells of the cervix (the lower part of the uterus that connects to the vagina). Dr. BS Vu Huu Khiem - Head of Oncology Department, Tam Anh General Hospital, Hanoi, said that HPV (human papillomavirus) has been shown to be associated with cervical cancer, especially high-risk strains such as HPV 16, HPV 18... When exposed to HPV, the body's immune system normally blocks the virus that causes the disease. However, the virus can survive for many years in an infected person's body and contribute to disease.

Women with cervical cancer often experience abdominal and pelvic pain. Photo: Freepik

Cervical cancer is divided into 4 stages in order from I to IV. The lower the stage, the less likely the cancer has spread. Being in a higher stage, such as stage IV, means the disease is more advanced.

If the biopsy shows cancerous cells, the doctor may order certain additional imaging tests to help determine the stage of the cancer, such as cystoscopy, colposcopy, chest X-ray, mammogram. computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)...

Cervical cancer is usually staged according to the International Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology (FIGO) staging system.

Phase I

Cancer cells have spread from the lining of the cervix into deeper tissues of the uterus and have not invaded other organs. This stage is diagnosed by clinical examination combined with cytology and histopathology.

Symptoms of cervical cancer in this stage include abnormal bleeding between periods in women of reproductive age, vaginal bleeding after menopause, bleeding after sex, and increased secretions. abnormal vaginal discharge.

Phase II

Cancer has spread outside the uterus to nearby areas such as the vagina or tissue near the cervix, but is still inside the pelvis, has not spread to other parts of the body. Symptoms of this stage include persistent back, leg or pelvic pain; Weight loss, fatigue, loss of appetite. A foul-smelling and unpleasant vaginal discharge, swelling of the legs or both lower extremities can also be warning signs.

Phase III

Tumor invades the lower third of the vagina and/or has spread to the pelvic wall; cause hydronephrosis; and/or involves nearby lymph nodes, which have not metastasized to distant sites.

When cervical cancer is advanced to stage 3, symptoms are often more severe including frequent back pain; persistent pain, swelling of the legs; persistent pelvic pain. Patients may also experience unexplained weight loss; fatigue; loss of appetite, loss of appetite. Other symptoms include foul-smelling vaginal discharge and vaginal discomfort.

Stage IV

Cancer has spread to the bladder or rectum, has not or has metastasized to other parts of the body. According to Doctor Khiem , the typical signs of stage IV cervical cancer are abnormal vaginal bleeding, pelvic pain, leg pain and edema, vaginal burning pain, vaginal discharge, and bad odor. abnormal color... Patients also experience many other signs where malignant cells metastasize such as pain in the rectal area, digestive disorders; Difficulty urinating, sharp pain when urinating, urine mixed with blood when kidney cancer metastasizes...

A doctor advises on cervical cancer screening for a woman at Tam Anh General Hospital. Photo: Chau Bui

Based on information from the SEER database run by the National Cancer Institute (NCI), the American Cancer Society has provided statistics on the survival of different types of cancer, in which, cervical cancer. The SEER database tracks 5-year relative survival for cervical cancer in the US, based on how far the cancer has spread. Accordingly, the 5-year survival rate for each stage includes stage I about 95%, stage II (70%), stage III (40%) and stage IV (15%).

According to estimates by the World Health Organization (WHO), in 2020 there will be about 604,000 new cases and 342,000 deaths from cervical cancer . About 90% of these occur in low- and middle-income countries. Most of the deaths are due to late detection, when the disease has advanced to lymph nodes and distant organs, has invaded the lymph nodes and organs in the body.

Screening, early detection of cervical cancer helps to effectively treat, reduce recurrence rate, increase survival rate and quality of life for patients.