Symptoms, Stages and Treatment

Cervical cancer does not cause any symptoms early one. Unfortunately, most women don’t notice any changes until the cancer has already progressed. Once the cancer has advanced, individuals may experience vaginal discharge or irregular bleeding, especially after sexual intercourse (CDC 2011). Often this can take a very long time since years or even decades can lie between the onset of infection with HPV and the symptomatic phase of cervical cancer.

Treatment depends on the stage of the cancer, the woman’s age and her reproductive intentions.

In Stage IB: the most common procedure is a radical hysterectomy (removal of the uterus) with removal of lymph nodes in the pelvis. However, for women who still want to be able to have kids, the removal of the pelvic lymph nodes might be an option (American Cancer Society 2011).

In Stage IIB: suggested treatment is a combination of internal and external radiation with chemotherapy.

In Stage III: the lymph nodes have been infected by the cancer and most likely also to other areas of the body.

In Stage IVB: the cancer has spread to other adjacent areas like the pelvis and often also to the lungs and bones. Treatment is limited since at this point cervical cancer is not considered curable anymore. However, some doctors might still order chemotherapy to reduce the symptoms of the areas affected through spreading (American Cancer Society 2011).