3 symptoms women should NEVER ignore – because they could be a sign of deadly cervical cancer

Experts have urged women to be on the lookout for three subtle warning signs of one of the deadliest cancers – as catching the disease early dramatically improves survival chances.

Roughly two women die every day in Britain from cervical cancer, which killed TV personality Jade Goody at the age of 27.

The disease is often called a ‘silent killer’ because its symptoms can easily be mistaken for less serious problems, such as heavy periods and exhaustion.

But if the signs are recognized early, the chance of surviving for at least five years is about 95 percent.

This drops to 15 percent if the cancer is discovered at a later stage, when the cancer spreads to other parts of the body.

Angela Sarmiento Bentancourt, medical specialist at healthcare technology company myMorningwhich helps patients access clinical trials, had highlighted the three signs to look out for.

Heavier periods, bleeding after sex, between periods or after menopause, and pain during sex, or in general, especially in your lower back, pelvis or abdomen, are all symptoms of cancer.

Often, the heavier and more frequent bleeding can cause women to feel more exhausted than normal, she warns.

Symptoms of cervical cancer to look out for include unusual vaginal bleeding, pain during sex, and pain in the lower back or pelvis.

Lower back pain and pain between your hip bones (pelvis) are commonly experienced during menstruation. But they can also be a sign of cervical cancer.

The pain is often caused by a tumor pressing on bones, nerves or organs.

Abnormal bleeding can occur because the cancer tissue and blood vessels are fragile and bleed easily. As the disease spreads, healthy tissue can also become damaged and bleed, experts say.

If your cervix is ​​inflamed, which could be the result of a tumor, the pressure of sex can be painful.

It is for this reason that Ms. Sarmiento Bentancour advises to seek medical attention for the above-mentioned problems so that doctors can perform tests to rule out cancer.

It is much more likely that bleeding is due to a range of less serious causes, such as hormonal imbalance such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), polyps or fibroids, sexually transmitted diseases or the common reproductive disease, endometriosis.

Likewise, pain during sex can be due to an infection, menopause, genital irritation, or allergy from soap or condoms.

All women and people with a cervix in Britain between the ages of 25 and 64 are also invited for regular cervical examinations, which serve as the main way of making a diagnosis.

Cervical cancer is the 14th most common cancer in women in Britain, affecting around 3,300 people every year.

Fortunately, women in the UK have access to comprehensive cervical cancer screenings, but globally, cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women, and low- and middle-income countries have the highest incidence and mortality of cervical cancer.

In approximately 99 percent of cases, cervical cancer is caused by an infection with a high-risk type of human papillomavirus (HPV).

There are more than 100 types of HPV, and only about 30 can affect the genital area.

Many people never show symptoms as they can develop years after the infection, and most cases resolve without treatment.

However, in some cases it can cause the genital tissues to grow abnormally, which can lead to cervical cancer over many years.

Ms Bentancourt explains that condoms can help reduce the risk of HPV.

However, because they do not cover the entire skin around the genitals, they do not provide complete protection.

There is a vaccine against HPV.

It is more than 80 percent effective and available in much of the developed world.

It is a two-dose vaccine that is now available for children between the ages of 11 and 12. The injections are given twelve months apart.

For people who missed that window, a three-dose shot is available for people ages 15 to 26.

The vaccine has been offered to girls in England and Wales since September 2008, before being extended to boys in 2019.

All women in Britain between the ages of 25 and 64 are also invited for regular cervical examinations, which serve as the main way of making a diagnosis.