It is very difficult to recognize the cervical cancer symptoms as symptoms of this particular disease mimic the signs of various other kinds of ailments and so it requires expert diagnosis by an experienced physician. Many women also commit the mistake of passing off the symptoms of cervical cancer as ovulation cramps and pains or as pre-menstrual syndrome. To add on to the confusion, at times cervical cancer may strike an unsuspecting woman without displaying any symptom.
The problem is complicated by the symptoms appearing, if they do appear at all, pretty late when the cancer has become much more advanced and spread its roots and branches through the body. Again the symptoms and their occurrence will vary from one woman to another.
The symptoms of cervical cancer are enumerated below.
1. Bleeding Abnormally
Cervical cancer is characterized by excessive vaginal bleeding that is abnormal. However the bleeding may not always be very heavy. It can be light bleeding as well and it will take place through the month.
2. Unusually heavy discharge
Another symptom of cervical cancer can be an increased vaginal discharge that may be accompanied by mucus, the latter may be thick or watery and it may have a foul smell. Again this will vary from one woman to another. If you detect any unusual heavy discharge from the vagina, report it straight to the doctor.
3. Pelvic pain
There are two types of pelvic pain. One is the normal one, related to the normal menstrual cycle. The other kind of pelvic pain that can be a sharp slicing pain or a dull ache might turn out to be a cervical cancer syndrome. At times the pain tends to last for hours. The pain can range from severe to mild.
4. Pain while urinating
If you experience pain during urination or pain in the bladder, it can be construed as cervical cancer having spread to the urinary bladder and this pain usually appears when the cervical cancer is at an advanced stage.
===Other kinds of alarming bleeding==
If you bleed after a pelvic exam or douching or after sexual intercourse or in between your periods, it may be a symptom of cervical cancer. The cervix gets irritated while performing these activities and so it bleeds. If you have a healthy cervix you will perhaps experience a little amount of bleeding, but with a cancerous cervix which gets aggravated by activities like intercourse, the result will be heavier bleeding.
These symptoms are identical to those of many other kinds of gynecological disease.