Cervical cancer or Cervical cancer is one of the most common in women in Indonesia. Early symptoms of cervical cancer are often vague, so many women pay less attention. TidRarely, this cancer is only known at an advanced stage and treatment may be too late.
Data from the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Indonesia shows that cervical cancer along with breast cancer occupies the first and second highest positions of all cancer cases. These two types of cancer are also the two types that receive the most treatment at the national cancer referral center hospital.
Pay attention to these signs
The cervix is the lower part of the uterus, which connects the uterus to the vagina, so it is more commonly known as the cervix. Cervical cancer occurs when abnormal cells grow uncontrollably. This condition can be overcome when found at an early stage, through examination PAP smearas well as self-examination using a pad.
The reason is, early stage cervical cancer rarely shows typical symptoms. When symptoms appear, it is generally because cervical cancer cells have developed, until they begin to affect the surrounding tissue.
Here are some early symptoms of cervical cancer to pay attention to:
- Vaginal fluid changesVaginal discharge with bleeding is an unusual change in vaginal discharge. In addition, vaginal discharge that is pale, brown, watery or has a foul smell that occurs continuously, is one of the symptoms of cervical cancer to watch out for.
- Abnormal bleedingSome types of abnormal bleeding, such as bleeding outside of menstruation, more menstrual blood, longer menstrual periods, bleeding after menopause, or bleeding that occurs after sexual intercourse can be early symptoms of cervical cancer.
- Pain in the lower abdomen or cervixPain in the lower abdomen or pelvic area, as well as pain during sex, can also be suspected as early symptoms of cervical cancer. Although there are other possible causes, it is important to get this condition checked out immediately.
- Positively infected Human PapillomaVirusCervical cancer is generally caused by the HPV or virus human papillomavirus which can be transmitted through sexual intercourse. Some HPV can trigger genital warts, some cause cervical cancer.
If cervical cancer has progressed to a more advanced stage, the symptoms will get worse, including:
- Pain in the pelvic cavity or back and bones.
- Difficulty urinating and blood in the urine.
- Swelling in one or both legs.
- Changes in bowel habits.
- Loss of appetite and weight loss.
Perform Periodic Checks
To determine the condition of the uterus, examination Pwhasmear periodically, it is important to do. Usually the doctor will recommend this examination is carried out regularly every 3 years since the woman enters the age of 21 years. For women aged 30 years and over who want to check the presence of HPV in their uterus can do a test PAP smear every 5 years.
In this test, the doctor will take a sample of cells from the cervix and check for changes in the nature of the cervical cells. If a change in the nature of cervical cells is suspected, the doctor may order further tests, such as a biopsy. The doctor will take tissue samples from the cervix to look for possible precancerous conditions or cancer cells in the cervix.
Apart from inspection PAP smear, HPV vaccination can also be done as an effort to prevent cervical cancer. This vaccination can be given for ages 9-26 years. This method is only effective for people who have never been infected with this virus. If you want to do this vaccination, it should be done before active sexual intercourse.
Pay close attention to the changes that occur in your reproductive organs. Do regular checkups to determine their health condition. If you experience unusual symptoms, consult your doctor immediately to determine whether these are early symptoms of cervical cancer or other diseases. You can also consult a doctor to find the right information about cervical cancer.
