An NHS doctor has highlighted two “common” symptoms that should never be overlooked as they could signal cervical cancer.
According to the NHS, cervical cancer can develop in any part of the cervix and is most frequently diagnosed in women aged 30 to 35, although it can occur at any age in anyone with a cervix.
Dr Shireen, an NHS GP, is urging individuals to consult their doctor if they notice these symptoms. She’s become one of many experts sharing their knowledge and insight on social media, gaining a significant TikTok following thanks to her advice.
In a recent video, Dr Shireen addressed viewers directly and stated: “I am an NHS GP and it’s cervical cancer awareness week, so please watch this video because it might save you or someone you love’s life.”
She emphasised the importance of smear tests in detecting potential future changes that could lead to cervical cancer, noting that early detection makes cancer “much more preventable”.
Dr Shireen also mentioned a vaccination programme for schoolgirls aimed at preventing cervical cancer. She continued: “Cervical cancer is like 99.8% preventable – unfortunately, there are some people who don’t go for their smear test and there are people, obviously, like older people who haven’t yet been vaccinated.”
The doctor then urged people to be “aware” of the signs and symptoms of cervical cancer, particularly if they’re unvaccinated or haven’t been for their smear test. She discussed two “really common symptoms” which include “any abnormal bleeding” such as after sexual intercourse, between your periods, or “post menopausal bleeding”.
The second symptom the GP mentioned is pain. She explained: “Cervical cancer can typically cause lower abdominal pain and back pain and hip pain.”
Dr Shireen said these symptoms could be indicative of other issues and don’t necessarily mean a person has cervical cancer but it’s still very important to get checked out regardless.
She concluded: “We are in cervical cancer awareness week so I need to share with you the common symptoms – so it’s bleeding and pain – but you can massively, massively, massively reduce your risk of cervical cancer by going for your routine smear.”
Dr Shireen’s guidance is reiterated and confirmed on the NHS website, where the symptoms are listed in detail as follows:
- vaginal bleeding that’s unusual for you – including bleeding during or after sex, between your periods or after the menopause, or having heavier periods than usual
- changes to your vaginal discharge
- pain during sex
- pain in your lower back, between your hip bones (pelvis), or in your lower tummy.
The NHS does note other conditions such as fibroids or endometriosis might cause these symptoms regularly, leading some individuals to become accustomed to them. However, the health service emphasises “it’s important to be checked by a GP if your symptoms change, get worse, or do not feel normal for you”.