Around 500,000 new cases and 273,000 fatalities of cervical cancer occur each year in women globally, making it the second most frequent malignancy in this group. However, there are significant regional differences in frequency and stage at diagnosis, which heavily rely on the presence of a reliable population screening programme.
What colour is cervical cancer discharge?
Vaginal discharge from cervical cancer may be pale, watery, pink, brown, red, or foul-smelling and it never stops. Although vaginal discharge is common, the kind you experience may be a sign of your vaginal health. You can notice discharge that smells bad and is pink, brown, or bloody if you have cervical cancer. Sometimes, tissue fragments or necrotic material may be present in the discharge due to infection of the tumours, giving it a bad odour. Do not waste any time and schedule an appointment with your gynaecologist right away if there is a persistent discharge that is pale, watery brown, or mixed with blood.
Vaginal discharge that is clear, milky, or slightly yellowish in color is normal and healthy. However, any changes in color, consistency, or odor should be looked into. Small amounts of blood in a discharge that may be related to cervical cancer may give it a reddish tint. Before or after their regular menstrual cycle, women should look out for a discharge that is tinted red, as well as an increase in the amount of discharge. Lack of oxygen may cause some cervical cancer cells to die and infect the tumour which is the cause of the smelly vaginal discharge is infection.
An upsetting sign of advanced cervical cancer is vaginal discharge. You might have extreme shyness, anxiety, and depression as a result. It might be difficult to deal with, but a variety of things can help, depending on what’s causing the issue.
Vaginal discharge is frequently caused by an infection. Infections can be more common for certain women receiving radiotherapy or chemotherapy for cervical cancer.
Depending on the infection’s nature, antibiotics or antifungal drugs may be used to treat it. Inform your doctor about your symptoms even if it may be humiliating. They will be able to provide you the appropriate treatments if it is an infection.
The foul-smelling discharge could potentially be a sign of the malignancy. If your cancer is really advanced, it could be challenging to entirely eradicate the symptom.
Try the following to help control the odor and discharge:
Dry off and keep the region around the vagina clean.
To keep the region cool, wear cotton underwear and loose clothing.
Regularly change sanitary napkins.
Before changing pads, use a deodorising spray, essential oils, or an air filter around your bed or in the bathroom.
Do not use scented soaps or bubble bath near the vagina.
For used sanitary pads, put them in scented trash bags.
After using the restroom, wipe from front to back.
Ask your nurse where you may purchase charcoal underwear or panty liners to help mask the odour of vaginal discharge.
What is cervical cancer bleeding like?
Unusual vaginal bleeding, such as bleeding during or after sex, in between periods, after menopause, or experiencing heavier-than-normal periods.
Menstrual bleeding can occasionally mimic cervical cancer. The patient can experience bleeding between periods, spotting, or a heavier or longer menstrual cycle than usual. Any bleeding that seems unusual in any way has to be reported to a physician. This includes any menopausal bleeding, particularly if it has been a long time since the patient last had a period (months or years).
One of the most typical signs of cervical cancer is this. Usually, it happens after the cancer has spread to nearby tissue. It’s important to see your gynecologist if you experience any type of abnormal bleeding, whether it’s after sexual activity, during a pelvic exam, during menopause, or if it causes fatigue and dizziness. Women frequently mistake irregular bleeding for normal spotting. Any irregularities in the menstrual cycle, such as greater bleeding, longer periods, or bleeding in between cycles, are equally significant.
Women with advanced cancer of the cervix may need palliation for uncomfortable symptoms, such as vaginal bleeding. In advanced disease, vaginal bleeding, which can occur anywhere between 0.7 percent and 100 percent of the time, can be fatal. Six percent of women with cervical cancer die from bleeding, and controlling it is frequently difficult.
Vaginal bleeding is still a frequent side effect of advanced cervical cancer. There isn’t a comprehensive evaluation that deals with palliative therapies for reducing vaginal bleeding brought on by advanced cervical cancer at the moment.
Advanced cases of gynaecological cancer, such as cervical and endometrial cancer, may involve vaginal bleeding. Application of Moh’s paste or Monsel’s solution to areas of vaginal bleeding, as well as vaginal packing that may be soaked in paraformaldehyde, are examples of topical therapy. Uterine or iliac artery embolization can be carried out by interventional radiology services using mechanical tools like coils or sclerosing agents. In the absence of interventional radiology resources, surgical vascular ligation may be a more invasive therapy option.
Controlling cervical cancer symptoms?
Advanced cervical cancer is characterised by the progression of the disease from the cervix to at least one other organ, such as the liver, lungs, or bones.
The cancer’s location in your body will affect the symptoms you experience. Not all symptoms indicate advanced cancer; others could be brought on by other health issues.
Despite a 78.5 percent awareness rate, the knowledge of women in this study regarding the signs, symptoms, and risk factors of cervical cancer was relatively low (40.0 percent and 15.6 percent, respectively). Similar to that, just 22.9 percent of people had Pap smears, despite there being a 55.1 percent awareness rate. The two main reasons for getting a Pap smear were doctor or nurse recommendations (89.4%) and concern about getting cervical cancer (23.4%), whereas the two main reasons for not getting a Pap smear were lack of awareness (53.8%) and the test’s non-recommendation by doctors or nurses (31.0 percent ).
High levels of education were only significantly associated with increased knowledge of cervical cancer and awareness of Pap smear, but not with its uptake, whereas prior counselling by doctors/nurses and knowing someone with cervical cancer significantly increased the knowledge of cervical cancer and the uptake of Pap smear.
Regular health education from healthcare professionals along with the suggestion of Pap smear tests will enhance awareness of cervical cancer and its screening, as well as lessen the burden of the illness.
Conclusion
Typically, cervical cancer progresses gradually. Dysplasia, a precancerous condition, is where it starts. A Pap test can identify this illness, which is almost always curable. Dysplasia can progress into cervical cancer over a number of years. Today, the majority of women who are diagnosed with cervical cancer have not had routine Pap tests or have not followed up on results of an abnormal Pap test.
Receiving a cancer diagnosis is both unexpected and terrifying. Support from friends and family during this difficult time may help you cope. It is essential to recognise and treat this horrible disease early on if you notice any abnormal cells on your cervix. By arranging routine gynaecological tests and engaging in safe sex, you can take precautions to lower your chance of developing cervical cancer.
Sources:
https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000893.htm
https://www.medanta.org/patient-education-blog/6-signs-of-cervical-cancer-women-should-not-ignore/
https://www.unitypoint.org/livewell/article.aspx?id=13df80b7-fb1c-4fd6-83de-2ff05a178b81