Symptoms of cervical cancer

Cervical cancer may not cause any signs or symptoms in its early stages. Symptoms often appear once the tumour grows into surrounding tissues and organs. Other health conditions can cause the same symptoms as cervical cancer.

The signs or symptoms of cervical cancer include:

  • abnormal vaginal bleeding including between periods, after menopause and after sexual intercourse
  • abnormal or increased amount of vaginal discharge
  • foul-smelling vaginal discharge
  • unusually long or heavy periods
  • bleeding after a pelvic exam or vaginal douching
  • pain during sexual intercourse
  • difficulty urinating
  • difficulty having a bowel movement
  • leaking of urine or feces from the vagina
  • pain in the pelvic area or lower back that may go down one or both legs
  • leg swelling, often in one leg
  • loss of appetite
  • weight loss
  • shortness of breath
  • coughing up blood
  • chest or bone pain
  • fatigue

Expert review and references

  • Klopp AH, Eifel PJ, Berek JS, Konstantinopoulos PA. Cancer of the cervix, vagina and vulva. DeVita VT Jr, Lawrence TS, Rosenberg SA. Cancer: Principles and Practice of Oncology. 10th ed. Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer Health/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2015: 72:1013-1047.
  • Levine DA, Dizon DS, Yashar CM, Barakat RR, Berchuch A, Markman M, Randall ME. Handbook for Principles and Practice of Gynecologic Oncology. 2nd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Wolters Kluwer; 2015.
  • National Cancer Institute. Cervical Cancer Treatment (PDQ®) Health Professional Version. 2018. http://www.cancer.gov/.
  • Oleszewski K. Cervical cancer. Yarbro CH, Wujcki D, Holmes Gobel B, (eds.). Cancer Nursing: Principles and Practice. 8th ed. Burlington, MA: Jones and Bartlett Learning; 2018: 50: 1397 - 1421.
  • US National Library of Medicine. MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia: Cervical cancer. 2017. https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000893.htm.

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