6 Symptoms of cervical cancer that Indonesian women must be aware of

About Semarang – Cervical cancer or cervical cancer is one of the biggest health threats for Indonesian women.

Data from the World Health Organization (WHO) noted that around 15 thousand cases of cervical cancer were found every year in Indonesia.

Unfortunately, many new cases are detected when cancer has spread, making handling more difficult.

Cervical cancer is the growth of cancer cells that occur in the cervix, the lower part of the uterus connected to the vagina.

The main cause of this cancer is the infection of human papilloma virus (HPV) that is transmitted through sexual intercourse.

Although the body has a mechanism to fight HPV infection, certain risk factors can make this virus last a long time and develop into cancer.

The initial symptoms of cervical cancer to watch out for

Quoted from the Pondok Indah Hospital page, cervical cancer in the early stages often does not show clear symptoms. However, there are several signs that can be recognized, including:

1. Abnormal vaginal discharge

Leucorrhoea is a natural mechanism for the body to maintain the health of female sex organs.

However, in cervical cancer, vaginal discharge can turn into more, brown or mixed with blood, foul -smelling, and has a thick consistency.

Usually this vaginal discharge appears between the menstrual cycle or after menopause.

2. Bleeding after sexual intercourse

Fragile cervical cells due to cancer bleed easily even because of mild friction during intercourse.

If you experience bleeding after sexual intercourse, you should immediately consult a doctor.

3. Pain or discomfort during sexual intercourse

In addition to bleeding, pain or discomfort during intercourse can also be an early symptom of cervical cancer because cells that grow abnormal make the surrounding tissue sensitive.

4. Pelvic pain and lower back

The growth of abnormal cancer cells can cause continuous blunt pain in the pelvis and lower back.

This pain usually gets worse with the development of the disease.

5. Changes in the menstrual cycle

Menstrual bleeding that lasts longer than usual (more than 7 days), bleeding outside the cycle, or significant increase in menstrual blood volume can be a sign of cervical cancer.

6. Vaginal bleeding in menopausal women

Normally, menopausal women no longer experience bleeding. If bleeding occurs after menopause, this needs to be watched out as a possible symptom of cervical cancer.

Risk factors and prevention of cervical cancer

Every woman who is sexually active is at risk of cervical cancer, but some conditions increase risk, such as:

– Having sex at an early age (under 18 years)
– Active smokers
– Having many sexual partners

– Ever or is experiencing sexually transmitted diseases
– Weak immune system, for example HIV sufferers
– Family history with cervical cancer

To prevent cervical cancer, WHO and the Indonesian government recommend the HPV vaccine for girls and young women.

In addition, routine checks such as Pap Smear, IVA, or HPV DNA tests are very important for early detection.

Early detection and treatment

Early detection is the key to increasing the chance of recovering from cervical cancer.

Routine examinations such as Pap Smear and Colposcopy allows to find cell changes before developing into malignant cancer.

If cancer is detected from the beginning, various treatment options are available, ranging from surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, to target therapy.

Cervical cancer is a deadly disease that is often detected late because the symptoms are not immediately felt.

Recognizing the 6 initial symptoms above and routinely conduct medical examinations can save lives.

Do not wait until severe symptoms appear, immediately consult an obstetrician for screening and vaccination of HPV. ***