10 things to know about neuroendocrine tumors
Four 'red Flag' Warning Signs That Could Be Cervical Cancer
03:07, 12 Mar 2025Updated 12:09, 12 Mar 2025
An expert has highlighted four "red flag" symptoms that could indicate cervical cancer, with people warned to be on the look out - as early detection is crucial. There are around 3,300 new cervical cancer cases in the UK every year and, tragically, about 850 lives are lost to the disease each year, according to Cancer Research UK.
A staggering 99.8% of these cases are preventable, and catching the disease early significantly improves outcomes. Therefore recognising the signs and symptoms is key so you can see a GP if you need to.
Cervical cancer develops in the cervix, the passage forming the lower part of the womb leading to the vagina. Regular cervical screenings, also known as smear tests, are a powerful preventative measure against the disease.
To reduce the risk of cervical cancer, those at risk are advised to attend cervical screening appointments when invited. You should also be aware of the symptoms of cervical cancer and seek medical advice if any are present, accept the HPV vaccination if offered between the ages of 11-18, discuss prevention methods with family and friends to spread awareness, and know where to access support and information, which is readily available from GPs and local family planning clinics.
Patient Claim Line's Litigation Executive, Alexandra Penk previously shared four red flags to watch out for with the Liverpool ECHO, as well as what to do if you've experienced delayed treatment. Highlighting the warning signs, she said: "Pain or discomfort during sex, vaginal discharge and pain in the pelvis.
"Another common symptom that we hear about is unusual vaginal bleeding such as bleeding between periods, during or after sex and at any time after your menopause. Ultimately, not everyone diagnosed with cervical cancer will display symptoms, so it's crucial to attend regular cervical screening assessments."
Explaining the cervical cancer screening programme, Ms Penk said: "The NHS cervical screening programme is open to women aged between 25 and 64. It is also available for anyone in this age range who have a cervix, including trans men and non-binary people.
"In England and Northern Ireland, you should expect to receive an invite every three years, if you are aged between 25 and 49. If you are aged between 50 and 64, expect to receive an invite every five years. If you live in Scotland or Wales, you will be invited for screening every five years, between the ages of 25 and 64."
She added that cervical screening, commonly known as a smear test, involves taking a sample of cells from the cervix with a small, soft brush which is then sent to a laboratory for HPV testing.
"If you test positive for HPV, you will be invited for a colposcopy to examine your cervix more closely. If there are no cell changes, you will be invited for a cervical screening sooner than usual - around a year."
Cervical cancer symptoms as listed by the NHS"Cervical cancer treatment will depend on where in the cervix the cancer is located as well as its size. Other important considerations include whether the cancer has spread to other parts of the body as well as your general health. If you have a diagnosis of cervical cancer, you will usually have surgery or a form of chemotherapy and radiotherapy (known as chemoradiotherapy)."
What can I do if I've received delayed treatment for cervical cancer?"If there's been a delay in treating your cervical cancer, this is considered to be medical negligence. You are therefore entitled to make a claim for compensation."
Fact Check: Does Pap Smear Damage The Cervix?
An Instagram post claims that pap smear damages the cervix. The claim is False.
ClaimThe Instagram post claims that "pap smear damages the cervix". The Instagram user dr.Naturalhealing posted a reel which features featuring Barbara O'Neill, an Australian alternative healthcare promoter known for advocating unsupported health practices. In the reel, she can be seen lecturing about the pap smear, she says, "Please don't have a Pap smear. Everytime you have a pap smear, you're damaging the cervix."
The post can be accessed here.
Fact CheckThe claim is False. Pap smears help detect early signs of cervical cancer and are an important part of routine health checks. Though briefly uncomfortable for some, they do not cause any harm to the cervix.
What is cervix?The cervix is a small, muscular part of the female reproductive system that connects the uterus (womb) to the vagina (birth canal). Although it's often described as cylinder-shaped, its front and back walls usually touch each other, making it appear flatter. On average, the cervix is about 4 cm long and 3 cm wide.
The cervix has two main parts:
1. The lower part (called the intravaginal part) sits at the top of the vagina and can be seen during a medical exam.
2. The upper part lies above the vagina, inside the pelvis or lower abdomen.
What is cervical cancer?Cervical cancer is a type of cancer that starts in the cervix, the lower part of the uterus that connects to the vagina. It is the fourth most common cancer in women worldwide.
The main cause of cervical cancer is a virus called human papillomavirus (HPV). Some types of HPV, called high-risk HPV, can cause changes in the cells of the cervix. If these changes are not found and treated in time, they can turn into cancer.
Doctors use HPV tests and Pap smears to screen for cervical cancer: The HPV test checks if you have the virus and the Pap smear looks for abnormal cells in the cervix.
Cervical cancer can often be prevented. The best ways to lower your risk are getting regular screenings to catch any changes early, getting the HPV vaccine, which has been available since 2006. It protects against the types of HPV that cause most cervical cancers.
What is a Pap smear?A Pap smear is a simple and important test used to check for early signs of cervical cancer in women. During the test, a doctor gently collects cells from the cervix—the lower part of the uterus that opens into the vagina. These cells are then looked at under a microscope to see if there are any changes that might lead to cancer.
The Pap smear was developed by Dr. George Papanicolaou and has become the standard method for cervical cancer screening. It helps detect problems early, often before any symptoms appear, making treatment more effective.
Is Pap Smear a recommended screening method for cervical cancer?Yes, pap smear is the recommended screening method for cervical cancer, and it is also the widely used method around the world for the diagnosis of cervical cancer.
According to WHO, "In high resource settings, cytology (pap smear) is the most widely used screening test for cervical cancer"
Additionally, UNICEF recommended having the pap smear done for the diagnosis of HPV and cervical cancer.
Does Pap Smear Damage the Cervix?A pap smear is a simple and important test used to detect early signs of cervical cancer in women. While some studies have highlighted the importance of Pap smears in early detection and noted that some women may feel mild discomfort during the procedure, there is no medical consensus or scientific evidence supporting the claim that Pap smears cause damage to the cervix.
A study published in the International Journal of Cancer have mentioned that pap smears may cause short-term symptoms in women, including lower abdominal pain, urinary discomfort, feeling dizzy, feeling sick, and/or painful sexual activity. But, there is no evidence that pap smears cause any damage to the cervix.
Another review article published in Heliyon noted that women reported experiencing pain during the Pap smear procedure, primarily due to the use of a speculum—a device used to visualize internal structures like the vagina. But, the review did not indicate that Pap smears cause any harm to the cervix.
Several studies have emphasized the importance of Pap smears in cervical cancer screening. One such study published in the Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care highlighted that pap smear is a simple, affordable, non-invasive, and easy-to-use method for early detection of precancerous lesions, recommending its use for all women aged 25–30 and above for cervical screening.
Another study published in the International Journal of Research in Medical Sciences indicated that the incidence of invasive cervical cancer can be prevented through the effective implementation of pap smear screening programs in the target population.
Yet one more study published in the Journal of Medical Sciences and Health has highlighted that pap smear screening aids in identifying potentially precancerous lesions and infections, thereby facilitating timely medical intervention.
Research has shown that Pap smears may lead to short-term symptoms in some women, such as lower abdominal pain, urinary discomfort, dizziness, nausea, and pain caused by the speculum. However, numerous studies also emphasize the significance of Pap smears in cervical cancer screening and early detection of precancerous lesions. Importantly, no scientific evidence suggests that Pap smears damage the cervix, nor is there any consensus within the medical community supporting such a claim.
Dr Pratiksha Gupta, Professor, Obstetrics & Gynaecology, ESIC Hospital, told Medical Dialogues, "Pap smears are a routine part of women's health screening and are designed to detect early changes in cervical cells. While the procedure might be briefly uncomfortable for some, it does not harm or damage the cervix. The purpose is prevention, and the benefits of regular screening far outweigh the temporary discomfort. Pap smear and Mammography are both best screening tools for cervical and breast cancer detection. Both tests are safe and without any harmful effect and discomfort. They both detect cancers in very early stage and they can be treated at early stage with cure."
Dr Upasana Palo, MBBS, MS (OB/GYN), DNB(OB/GYN), MRCOG (UK), DrNB (Gynecologic Oncology), added, "Pap smear test is a form of screening test which screens for cervical cancer by examining cells collected from the cervix for abnormalities or infections, such as those caused by human papillomavirus (HPV). The primary purpose of a Pap smear is to detect cervical cancer and precancerous changes in the cervix, allowing for early intervention and potentially preventing the progression of these changes into cancer. A small sample of cells is collected from the cervix using a small brush, and these cells are then examined under a microscope. This doesn't cause any form of damage to the cervix."
Medical Dialogues Final TakePap smears are a simple and important tool for early detection of cervical cancer. While some women may experience mild, short-term discomfort during the procedure, it does not harm or damage the cervix. Regular screening remains a key step in protecting women's health and preventing serious cervical issues before they develop.
Hence the claim that pap smear damage the cervix is False.
4 Troubling Cancer Trends You Must Know About In 2025
The American Cancer Society's annual cancer trends report revealed a mix of news and statistics for 2025.
Cancer death rates have dropped 34% between 1991 and 2022, which the ACS attributes to early detection, smoking reduction and improvements in treatment.
While these numbers are encouraging, oncologists and cancer specialists still have concerns about some other factors.
CANCER DEATH RATES DECLINE YET NEW DIAGNOSES SPIKE FOR SOME GROUPS, SAYS REPORT
While the report shows continued progress on many fronts, certain areas remain of "significant concern," Dr. Joshua Strauss, an attending hematologist and medical oncologist at Advanced Care Oncology and Hematology Associates of the Atlantic Medical Group in Morristown, New Jersey, shared with Fox News Digital.
Oncologists share which cancer trends most concern them for 2025. (iStock)
Below are some of the most concerning trends, according to experts.
1. Cancer deaths not improving in younger individualsCancer prevalence in younger individuals and adolescents has continued to rise, according to the report, with rates in teens slowly increasing by 0.7% each year.
Cancer is the leading disease-related cause of death among children and adolescents — most commonly leukemia, brain cancer and lymphoma.
In 2025, the ACS estimates that 9,550 kids up to 14 years old and 5,140 adolescents aged 15 to 19 will be diagnosed with cancer, and that 1,050 children and 600 adolescents will die.
Cancer is the leading disease-related cause of death among children and adolescents, according to ACS. (iStock)
Dr. Paul Oberstein, a gastrointestinal medical oncologist and section chief of GI Medical Oncology at NYU Langone Perlmutter Cancer Center, reiterated that people below age 50 are seeing higher rates of cancer deaths.
"It's shown in multiple cancers," he told Fox News Digital. "I would say the biggest finding is in young women with breast cancer."
PANCREATIC CANCER PATIENT SURVIVAL DOUBLED WITH HIGH DOSE OF COMMON VITAMIN, STUDY FINDS
The prevalence of GI (gastrointestinal) cancers is also increasing among younger adults, including pancreatic and colon cancer.
Experts have varying hypotheses on why young people are being diagnosed more often, including diet, exposure to microplastics or other environmental triggers, according to Oberstein.
One medical oncologist pushed for more research across patients and institutions to "figure out what's going on." (iStock)
"We don't have a good explanation, and we need to invest in discovering why this might be the case so that we can change it," he said.
2. Cervical cancer continues to pose unnecessary threatCervical cancer is one of the few cancers that can be prevented, yet thousands of women are still at risk.
While cervical cancer incidence rates decreased by more than half from the mid-1970s to the mid-2000s due to screening uptake, these numbers have since stabilized, according to the report.
ALCOHOL LINKED TO CANCER RISK IN US SURGEON GENERAL'S NEW ADVISORY
A projected 13,000 women will be diagnosed with cervical cancer in 2025 and 4,000 will die, according to Dr. Jessica Shepherd, a board-certified obstetrician gynecologist in Dallas, Texas.
Cervical cancer risk and rates of mortality correlate to connectivity with a healthcare provider, one expert said. (iStock)
"Cervical cancer in women from 30 to 44 is increasing," she told Fox News Digital. "But also, this is a cancer that has the potential to be eradicated, if not eliminated, because of us knowing the understanding of HPV and its prevalence in the disease."
HPV (human papillomavirus infection), the most common cause of cervical cancer, can be detected through testing.
EXPERIMENTAL VACCINE FOR COMMON CANCER SHOWS POTENTIAL IN CLINICAL TRIAL
"We have innovation and technology that should be decreasing certain cervical cancer rates," Shepherd said.
3. Some communities lack healthcare accessThe ACS report found that Native Americans and Black people continue to die at higher rates than White people for several different cancers.
Among cervical cancer patients, the death rate in Black women and Native American women is 50% and 70% higher than in white women.
The five-year relative survival rate for cervical cancer in Black women is 58% compared to 67% of White women, the report found.
Black women are 50% more likely to die from cervical cancer than White women, the report found. (iStock)
This discrepancy in mortality rate is most likely due to lack of access to doctors and regular screenings, added Shepherd, who pushed for more research, awareness and public education.
"Cervical cancer is preventable through screening with the Pap plus HPV and co-testing," she said. "If we had the ability to have more potential early detection, then we could see abnormalities in cells … before it actually gets to cancer and could take the time to address it."
4. GI cancer diagnoses are worseningGastrointestinal (GI) cancers, such as pancreatic, liver, colorectal and stomach cancers, are all considered highly deadly.
The ACS report noted that colorectal diagnoses in men and women under the age of 65 have continued to increase.
Between 2012 and 2021, colorectal cancer incidence rates increased by 2.4% each year in people younger than 50 and by 0.4% per year in adults 50 to 64.
Colorectal cancer diagnoses in men and women under the age of 65 have continued to increase, according to ACS. (iStock)
Progress against pancreatic cancer is also trailing other cancers, according to the report, as incidence and mortality rates increase by 1% each year in men and women.
The ACS noted that in 2025, an estimated 67,440 new cases of pancreatic cancer will be diagnosed in the U.S. And 51,980 people will die from it.
For more Health articles, visit www.Foxnews.Com/health
The death rate for pancreatic cancer has increased by 0.2% to 0.3% each year in men and women, and the five-year relative survival rate is 13%, which Strauss described as "dismal."
Oberstein, a GI specialist, noted that these types of cancers "often have very poor outcomes," although there have been some improvements in early detection and treatment over the last few decades.
Gastrointestinal cancers "often have very poor outcomes," one oncologist cautioned. (iStock)
"The biggest benefit we've seen in terms of mortality comes from earlier detection of GI cancers," he told Fox News Digital, adding that colon cancer has the best outcomes when detected early.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER
"But we really need to double down on trying to detect stomach cancer, liver cancer and especially pancreatic cancer earlier in order to make a big difference," Oberstein said.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Fox News Digital's Melissa Rudy contributed to this report.
Angelica Stabile is a lifestyle reporter for Fox News Digital.
Comments
Post a Comment