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Symptoms of Cervical Cancer

by Amy Scholten, MPH
En Español (Spanish Version)
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Cervical cancer often has no symptoms in the early stages. Symptoms may not appear until the cancer is advanced.

Common Symptoms

The most common symptom is bleeding from the vagina:

  • Between periods
  • After sex, douching, or a pelvic exam
  • After menopause

Menstrual periods may be heavy or last a long time. There may be an unusual discharge from the vagina.

Cervical Cancer

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Advanced Symptoms

Later stages of cancer may cause:

  • Pain in the pelvis, belly or back
  • Problems passing urine or stool
  • Loss of hunger and weight
  • Being very tired
  • Swelling in the legs
REFERENCES:

Cervical cancer. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/condition/cervical-cancer. Accessed April 21, 2021.

Cervical cancer. Merck Manual Professional Version website. Available at: http://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/gynecology-and-obstetrics/gynecologic-tumors/cervical-cancer. Accessed April 21, 2021.

General information about cervical cancer. National Cancer Institute website. Available at: https://www.cancer.gov/types/cervical/patient/cervical-treatment-pdq. Accessed April 21, 2021.

Hu Z, Ma D. The precision prevention and therapy of HPV-related cervical cancer: new concepts and clinical implications. Cancer Med. 2018 Oct;7(10):5217-5236.

Signs and symptoms of cervical cancer. American Cancer Society website. Available at: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/cervical-cancer/detection-diagnosis-staging/signs-symptoms.html. Accessed April 21, 2021.

Last reviewed March 2021 by EBSCO Medical Review Board Mohei Abouzied, MD, FACP  Last Updated: 10/6/2021