A woman diagnosed with a common form of cancer has bravely shared the four symptoms she overlooked, as medical professionals highlight one key way to prevent the disease.
Cervical cancer ranks as the fourth most prevalent cancer in women globally and the 14th most common in the UK, with more than 3,000 diagnoses nationwide annually. Despite its prevalence, an astounding 99.8% of cases are preventable, according to Cancer Research UK.
As Cervical Cancer Prevention Week kicks off today (Monday, January 20) and runs until Sunday (January 26), both professionals and sufferers are urging Brits to raise awareness. Natasha, a TikTok user who has cervical cancer, has revealed the four symptoms she dismissed prior to her diagnosis.
“First one: abnormal bleeding,” Natasha explained. “Now this can mean anything, so this can be bleeding after intercourse, which I had, or just random, sporadic bleeding […] or irregular periods.”
She had noticed this symptom “for a while”, but shrugged it off due to previous experiences with irregular periods, not considering it a “big issue” until her diagnosis. Pain during sex, also known as dyspareunia, can indicate cervical cancer, although it is also a symptom of several other conditions.
Natasha recounted her own experience, noting: “I can’t even explain to you how it felt. All I can say is that it wasn’t nice and it wasn’t pleasant. But again, because I’d just had quite rubbish periods and bad period pains, I put it down to that all the time. I was wrong.”
Next up on Natasha’s list is fatigue, which often goes unmentioned, she revealed: “The fatigue I had, I can’t even explain it. I needed to be asleep all the time, and obviously this is because my body is fighting off cancer. I used to sleep a full night, all I’d want to do is nap all day – the level of tiredness I felt, I’ve never felt anything like it in all of my life.”
Natasha also shared that before her cervical cancer diagnosis, she experienced persistent lower back pain, a symptom she initially ignored. “Again, this is another sign and symptom that I ignored,” she said, especially since it reminded her of ongoing issues following an epidural after the birth of her first son.
Ending with a word of caution, she urged: “Girls, if you have these four symptoms, this is not saying that you’ve got cervical cancer. But they are definitely, definitely, definitely signs you need to get checked.”
The most effective method of preventing this largely avoidable condition is through routine screening. NHS services provide smear tests, and it is advised that women undergo one every three years, commencing at 25 years old.
For more information about cervical cancer – including prevention – visit the NHS website.