Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsStage 1Stage 2Stage 3Stage 4What to DoNext in Cervical Cancer GuideHow Is Cervical Cancer Diagnosed?
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Stage 1
Stage 2
Stage 3
Stage 4
What to Do
Next in Cervical Cancer Guide
Stage 1 Symptoms
At this stage, cervical cancer is almost alwaysasymptomatic(without symptoms) orsubacute(with notable symptoms).
If symptoms develop, a person may experience:
Stage 2 Symptoms
At this stage, the spread of cancer to the uterus and the tissues surrounding the uterus (called theparametrium) can trigger notable symptoms, such as:
Even at this stage, the symptoms are often subacute and easily dismissed.
Stage 3 Symptoms
Symptoms of stage 3 cervical cancer may include:
Stage 4 Symptoms
The involvement of other organs accounts for many of the possible symptoms of stage 4 cervical cancer, including:
Around one in seven cervical cancer diagnoses are made at stage 4.At this stage, cancer is incurable buttreatments are availableto prevent progression of the disease, ease symptoms, and extendsurvival.
What You Can Do
While cervical cancer cannot be diagnosed based on symptoms, the lack of symptoms does not mean that you don’t have cervical cancer. Each year, around 13,000 new cases are diagnosed, most often in those who only sought care when symptoms were apparent.Many of these people likely did not adhere to cancer screening recommendations, which include a routine Pap smear andHPV testing.
Summary
Cervical cancer is often asymptomatic during the early stages but can cause abnormal vaginal bleeding, irregular periods, vaginal discharge, and pelvic pain as the disease progresses.
As the tumor grows and starts to affect other organs, urination problems, leg swelling, and back pain can occur. In the most advanced stages, bone pain, breathing problems, fatigue, and unintended weight loss are common.
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7 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Cancer Society.Signs and symptoms of cervical cancer.American Cancer Society.Cervical cancer stages.University of Kansas Cancer Center.Understanding the stages of cervical cancer.National Cancer Institute.Cancer fast stats: cervical cancer.Zhou S, Peng F.Patterns of metastases in cervical cancer: a population-based study.Int J Clin Exp Pathol. 2020 Jul 1;13(7):1615–1623.National Cancer Institute.Cervical cancer screening.MedlinePlus.Vaginal or uterine bleeding.
7 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Cancer Society.Signs and symptoms of cervical cancer.American Cancer Society.Cervical cancer stages.University of Kansas Cancer Center.Understanding the stages of cervical cancer.National Cancer Institute.Cancer fast stats: cervical cancer.Zhou S, Peng F.Patterns of metastases in cervical cancer: a population-based study.Int J Clin Exp Pathol. 2020 Jul 1;13(7):1615–1623.National Cancer Institute.Cervical cancer screening.MedlinePlus.Vaginal or uterine bleeding.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
American Cancer Society.Signs and symptoms of cervical cancer.American Cancer Society.Cervical cancer stages.University of Kansas Cancer Center.Understanding the stages of cervical cancer.National Cancer Institute.Cancer fast stats: cervical cancer.Zhou S, Peng F.Patterns of metastases in cervical cancer: a population-based study.Int J Clin Exp Pathol. 2020 Jul 1;13(7):1615–1623.National Cancer Institute.Cervical cancer screening.MedlinePlus.Vaginal or uterine bleeding.
American Cancer Society.Signs and symptoms of cervical cancer.
American Cancer Society.Cervical cancer stages.
University of Kansas Cancer Center.Understanding the stages of cervical cancer.
National Cancer Institute.Cancer fast stats: cervical cancer.
Zhou S, Peng F.Patterns of metastases in cervical cancer: a population-based study.Int J Clin Exp Pathol. 2020 Jul 1;13(7):1615–1623.
National Cancer Institute.Cervical cancer screening.
MedlinePlus.Vaginal or uterine bleeding.
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