Four early warning signs of cervical cancer that women often mistake for something else
Among the various strains of the devastating disease, cervical cancer is renowned by researchers as one of the trickiest to identify.
According to healthcare experts, this could be down to the ambiguity of its symptoms - many of which are often mistaken as side effects for other, more common conditions.
Sadly, this means that hundreds of women receive their diagnoses too late, after having been reluctant to get checked-out by a professional - which, in turn, can hinder the efficiency of treatment later down the line.
As such, leading researchers are attempting to emphasise the importance of recognising four key indicators that cancer is present within the cervix, and urging women and girls around the world not to overlook them.
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Concerning stats
In the UK, a heartbreaking nine people are diagnosed with cervical cancer per day - meaning an even more concerning 3,300 new cases are identified per year.
The disease occurs when abnormal cells form uncontrollably in the lining of the cervix, which eventually form a tumour.
Cancer Research UK experts state 99.8 percent of these cases are totally preventable, through HPV vaccinations, cervical screenings, and knowledge of the disease's symptoms.
The issue is, however, that the four signs that experts believe are the most vital to keep an eye out for also fall under the umbrella of other, less serious conditions, meaning a sufferer might be reluctant to get checked out.
1) Abnormal bleeding
For many, irregular bleeding is simply part of their experience of womanhood.
Whether it occurs between periods, after sex or post menopause, this inconvenient and often-painful sensation could be caused by all sorts of things.
Not only could several different types of contraception (particularly the coil, the implant and the pill) trigger on-off bleeding, but conditions like endometriosis and PCOS could also mean that irregular bleeds are a frequent occurrence.
As we say, bleeding after sex is also common, and in most cases, it's caused by a cervical erosion or ectropion, as opposed to something more sinister.
It's also particularly common in the cases of young girls, pregnant women, and people on the pill, due to changes in hormone levels.
According to researchers, however, unusual bleeding patterns could be a sign of cervical cancer.
The NHS advises you should always see your GP about unusual bleeding between periods or after sex, or go to a sexual health clinic.
2) Pain during intercourse
Researchers also say that experiencing pain while being intimate with your partner could indicate the presence of cancer within the cervix.
This doesn't have to be full-fledged agony, however, and apparently, can simply describe the feeling of discomfort during sex.
Again, however, the fact that this phenomena could have hundreds of other causes - many of which aren't considered as serious as cancer - mean that cervical cancer is often dismissed when it shouldn't be.
Women who have experienced the menopause might suffer from painful sex as a result of vaginal dryness, while infections like thrush or STIs can trigger a similar discomfort.
Pain during sex could also be mental, following a past sexual trauma, or the result of longer-term conditions - again, such as endometriosis and PCOS.
As we say, however, tumours growing on tissues in and around the cervix, as well as any other nearby organs, could cause pain, meaning it's always worth getting checked out if it's playing on your mind.
3) Unusual discharge
Changes in the colour, consistency or smell of discharge can be triggered by several conditions - and in most cases, by thrush.
Vaginal discharge that is considered 'normal' should be clear or white, and non-smelling, but can change in thickness as a result of the menstrual cycle.
If discharge becomes dark yellow, brown, green or grey in colour, fishy or foul in scent, or chunky, foamy or accompanied by itching in texture, however, it could indicate either an infection or another cause - which sadly, could be cervical cancer.
4) Lower back or pelvic pain
Pain in either of these areas could be the result of an injury, or some form of trauma - like a slipped disc, or a trapped nerve.
With regards to pain in the back area, this could also be the side-effect to a degenerative condition, such as osteoarthritis, disc disease, or spinal stenosis.
Many menstruating woman also complain of lower back pain while on their periods - which is also the case with pain in the pelvis.
Pelvic pain could also be caused by conditions like a urinary tract infection, pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), ovarian cysts, endometriosis, kidney stones, or muscular conditions, like pelvic floor spasms or a hernia.
When combined with any of the symptoms already mentioned, however, medics warn that pain in these areas could be a symptom of cancer.
In these cases, the specific agony occurs when a tumour grows and puts pressure on other organs or surrounding tissues.
Rhianna Benson