Signs and symptoms of cervical cancer women should be aware of
Every single day in the UK, two women lose their lives to cervical cancer and nine more receive a life-changing diagnosis.
Cervical Cancer Prevention Week commenced at the very start of the week (22 January) and Tyla sat down with the UK's leading cervical cancer charity, Jo's Cervical Cancer Trust, to get all the info you need about the signs and symptoms of cervical cancer people with cervixes should be aware of.
Katie Musialowski, the Senior Information Officer at the charity, answered the main questions surrounding cervical cancer to shed some light on the disease which claims the lives of around 850 in the UK every single year.
What is cervical cancer?
Katie explains that cervical cancer is cancer of the cervix - a small, donut-shaped organ that joins the top of the vagina to the bottom of the womb.
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"Cells in the cervix can copy themselves to replace other cervical cells which are damaged or old," she continues. "This process is usually tightly controlled by the body."
However, if this process becomes unregulated then a tumour can form which is what we know as cervical cancer.
Nearly all cases of cervical cancer are thought to be caused by high-risk human papillomavirus or 'HPV'.
What are the signs and symptoms to look out for?
Katie says the signs or symptoms to look out include unusual vaginal bleeding, this could be bleeding between regular periods, after sex or after menopause, as well as changes to your vaginal discharge which may start to look different or smell unpleasant.
Alongside these two signs, the expert also notes that pain in the lower back or pelvis as well as pain or discomfort during sex can also be symptoms of cervical cancer.
What is the smear test and how does it work?
In the UK, cervical screening (a smear test) is offered to women and people with a cervix aged 25 to 64 to check the health of the cervix and help prevent cervical cancer.
Katie told Tyla a little more about smear tests, explaining: "You’ll usually be seen by a practice nurse.
"During the appointment, they’ll ask you to go behind a screen and undress from the waist down. There will be a bed for you to lie on and you’ll be given a sheet to cover yourself.
"They’ll then ask you to lie on your back with your legs bent and knees apart — although you can lie on your side if that makes you feel more comfortable."
When you're ready, Katie continues, the nurse will insert a plastic tube which opens into your vagina, called a 'speculum', which allows them to get a clear view of your cervix.
The nurse will then wipe your cervix with a small brush to collect cells, which are then sent to a lab to be tested for high-risk HPV.
Katie noted that 'everyone's experience of cervical screening is different', adding: "Some people don't feel any discomfort. Others may find it uncomfortable or painful, and there can be lots of reasons for this. They might be physical or psychological.
"It’s important to tell your nurse or doctor if cervical screening is painful for you — they can give you extra support."
She also suggested, if possible, booking your smear test appointment on a day that you don’t have your period, and to avoid the two days before and after bleeding.
"This is because blood in the sample can make it hard to get a result," Katie said.
Additionally, she informed Tyla that it's also advised not to have sex for '24 hours before' cervical screening, explaining: "This is because spermicides (chemicals that destroy sperm) and barrier methods of contraception (male condoms, female condoms, diaphragms and caps) contain chemicals that can affect the result."
After cervical screening, you’ll be invited back in one, three or five years depending on how old you are, where you live and the result of your last test.
Katie added: "Sometimes your result means you’ll be invited for something called 'colposcopy' instead — this is an examination to take a closer look at your cervix."
For anyone wondering what a smear test shows, it's purpose is to look for high-risk HPV in the cells of your cervix.
What happens if high-risk HPV is found during your smear?
"If high-risk HPV is found, your cells are then looked at under a microscope to see if they show changes," Katie continued. "Cervical screening looks for these things because you are more likely to get cervical cancer if you have them — it is not a test to find cancer."
Now, Katie warns that high-risk HPV itself doesn’t have any symptoms which is why it's so important to attend cervical screening when invited and to be aware of cervical cancer symptoms.
"If you have any symptoms, contact your GP — don’t wait for your next cervical screening appointment," Katie urges.
So, for anyone wondering why they should have the HPV vaccine, the expert explains: "HPV vaccination protects against the types of HPV that cause at least 70 per cent of cervical cancers and 90 per cent of genital warts.
"Research from England has shown that it has already reduced cervical cancer cases by more than 80 per cent in women in their 20s.
"HPV vaccination also protects against other cancers caused by high-risk HPV, such as anal cancer, penile cancer and some head and neck cancers."
You can find out more information about cervical cancer on the NHS website here or through Jo's Cervical Cancer Trust here.
If you’ve been affected by any of these issues and want to speak to someone in confidence, contact Macmillan’s Cancer Support Line on 0808 808 00 00, 8am–8pm seven days a week
Topics: Health, Life, Sex and Relationships, UK News, News, NHS
Rhiannon Ingle