Cervical cancer first symptoms?

Hi all,

Appologies for posting here when I don’t have a confirmed diagnosis but I’m after some advice. I am very worried as I went for my smear the other day (which I haven’t had for 5 years) and mentioned to the nurse that I have severe heavy periods in the last year that prevent me from doing my 1 hour work commute to London. I have been bleeding after intercourse (in the last couple of months) and pain. She mentioned a condition where cells grow outside the cervix (can’t remember what it was called) but after examination she said this wasn’t the case. She also didn’t mention polyps after the exam, which as I understand, she would usually see on the cervix. I have been married and only had one partner for 12 years so can’t be an STD, and the only other reasons Dr google gives are dryness (this wasn’t the case). My question is, are there any other reasons for bleeding and other symptoms? And i’d really appreciate anyone else’s experience of first symptoms of cervical cancer. I have also had permanent nausea for a couple of months now. I have a gynaecologist appt on tues but going out of my mind with worry!! Any advice truely appreciated x

  • Hi Moomoo

    i have cervical cancer which has been successfully treated. I am 57, and my first symptom was post menopausal bleeding. I also had quite bad pelvic pain. Other ladies I know report bleeding after sex, bleeding between periods, discharge, lower back pain. 

    Having these symptoms doesn’t necessarily mean it’s cervical cancer though. There could be other explanations. You say you have had a smear, for which I presume you are awaiting results. It may be that you need to have a colposcopy, which is a close examination of the cervix to rule out anything nasty, Similar procedure to a smear. 

    It so happens that my tumour was clearly visible to the naked eye on examination, so I had biopsies taken, but you’ve said that the nurse has examined you and seems not to have seen anything abnormal which is a good thing. You may need a hysteroscopy, which is a tiny camera put inside to look at your womb. There could possibly be polyps or fibroids which this examination would pick up. 

    Not long to go till your appointment where you wil hopefully get some answers, and it may well not be cancer. I’d advise staying off google as it would have us all dead and buried! It can be outdated and plain wrong and tends to report worst case scenarios for everything. This doesn’t help when you are already understandably in a panic. 

    I wish you all  the best for your appointment and please come back and let us know how you get on. There is a lot of support here for you if you need it. xx