The cancer often comes with few symptoms and those there are often do not appear until it has grown – but one sign of the disease can be a smell
Every year, thousands of women are diagnosed with cervical cancer. However, it often presents few symptoms and those that do appear often don’t manifest until the cancer has progressed.
One such symptom is a particular smell. Gynaecologic oncologist Kristina Butler of the Mayo Clinic explains that one sign can be a vaginal discharge which has a “foul odour”.
She said: “When it starts, cervical cancer might not cause symptoms. As it grows, cervical cancer might cause signs and symptoms.” She said these included:
Figures from Cancer Research UK show there are 3,256 new cases of cervical cancer in the UK every year. While more than half – 51% – of those in England will live for 10 years or more, 853 people will die of the disease every year, reports Surrey Live.
But most cases can be prevented. According to the charity almost all – 99.8% of cases – did not need to have happened.
What is cervical cancer?
Dr Butler. says: “Cervical cancer begins when healthy cells in the cervix develop changes in their DNA. A cell’s DNA contains the instructions that tell a cell what to do. The changes tell the cells to multiply quickly.
“The cells continue living when healthy cells would die as part of their natural life cycle. This causes too many cells. The cells might form a mass called a tumour. The cells can invade and destroy healthy body tissue. In time, the cells can break away and spread to other parts of the body.
“Most cervical cancers are caused by HPV. HPV is a common virus that’s passed through sexual contact. For most people, the virus never causes problems. It usually goes away on its own. For some, though, the virus can cause changes in the cells that may lead to cancer”
What causes cervical cancer
Dr Butler says there are several risk factors for cervical cancer. These include:
- Smoking tobacco – smoking increases the risk of cervical cancer. When HPV infections happen in people who smoke, the infections tend to last longer and are less likely to go away. HPV causes most cervical cancers.
- Increasing number of sexual partners – the greater your number of sexual partners, and the greater your partner’s number of sexual partners, the greater your chance of getting HPV.
- Early sexual activity – having sex at an early age increases your risk of HPV.
- Other sexually transmitted infections – having other sexually transmitted infections, also called STIs, increases the risk of HPV, which can lead to cervical cancer. Other STIs that increase the risk include herpes, chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis and HIV/AIDS.
- A weakened immune system – you may be more likely to develop cervical cancer if your immune system is weakened by another health condition and you have HPV.
- Exposure to miscarriage prevention medicine – if your parent took a medicine called diethylstilbestrol, also known as DES, while pregnant, your risk of cervical cancer might be increased. This medicine was used in the 1950s to prevent miscarriage. It’s linked to a type of cervical cancer called clear cell adenocarcinoma.
How can I prevent it?
There are ways to reduce your risk of cervical cancer. Dr Butler recommends you should:
- Ask your doctor about the HPV vaccine – receiving a vaccination to prevent HPV infection may reduce your risk of cervical cancer and other HPV-related cancers. Ask your health care team if an HPV vaccine is right for you.
- Have routine Pap tests – pap tests can detect precancerous conditions of the cervix. These conditions can be monitored or treated in order to prevent cervical cancer. Most medical organizations suggest beginning routine Pap tests at age 21 and repeating them every few years.
- Practice safe sex – reduce your risk of cervical cancer by taking measures to prevent sexually transmitted infections. This may include using a condom every time you have sex and limiting the number of sexual partners you have.
- Don’t smoke – if you don’t smoke, don’t start. If you do smoke, talk to a health care professional about ways to help you quit.
When should I seek medical advice?
Dr Butler advises: “Make an appointment with a doctor or other health care professional if you have any symptoms that worry you. “The NHS adds: “Try not to be embarrassed – the doctor or nurse will be used to talking about these symptoms. “.
