What are the high-risk age groups for cervical cancer? What should we pay attention to in preventing cervical cancer?

The age range for cervical cancer screening is generally 35 to 65 years old. In fact, some women who are not at this age may also have cervical cancer. What are the characteristics of cervical cancer?

The incidence of cervical cancer is:

First, there are obvious geographical differences. In my country, the incidence of cervical cancer is higher in rural areas than in cities, and higher in mountainous areas than in plains. It is mainly distributed in provinces, cities, and counties in the central region.

Second, the age of onset is bimodal, with women with cervical cancer mostly concentrated in the two age groups of 35-39 and 60-64. However, in recent years, the number of younger patients has increased, and young cervical cancer patients in their 20s are often encountered in clinical practice.

Third, there are no symptoms in the early stage. There is no obvious difference between early cervical cancer and chronic cervicitis. Only in the late stage will vaginal bleeding, vaginal discharge, and persistent or deep pain in the lumbar sacral region occur.

Preventing early symptoms

1. Systemic symptoms

Late-stage patients have a fever due to the metabolism of cancer tissue, the absorption of necrotic tissue or concurrent infection. The body temperature is generally around 38 degrees, and a few can reach above 39 degrees. Anemia, weight loss and even malignant diseases are all caused by bleeding and consumption.

2. Increased secretions

One of the main symptoms of these diseases mainly occurs before vaginal bleeding. At first, vaginal discharge will not have any odor. As the cancer grows, secondary infection and necrosis of the cancer will increase the amount of discharge, such as rice water or mixed blood, and have a foul odor. When the tumor spreads upward and involves the endometrium, the patient may experience lower abdominal discomfort, lower abdominal pain, back pain, and fever.

3. Other symptoms

The cancer can spread forward and invade the bladder. Patients may experience frequent urination, urgency, pain, falling, and hematuria, which are often misdiagnosed as urinary tract infection, leading to delayed diagnosis.

4. Pain

It is a symptom of advanced cervical cancer. The cancer extends along the tissue, invades the pelvic wall, and compresses the peripheral nerves. The clinical manifestation is persistent pain in the sciatic nerve or sacroiliac nerve. The tumor compresses or erodes the ureter, narrows the ureter, and the obstruction leads to hydronephrosis, which manifests as low back pain or even severe pain. It further develops into renal failure, leading to uremia. The invasion of the lymphatic system leads to lymphatic obstruction, lower limb edema and pain.

Prevention and early diagnosis methods

1. Observe the abnormal epithelium and blood vessel variations on the surface of the cervix.

2. Look for cancer cells through cervical smear.

3. Finally, a biopsy of the cervix and endocervical canal is required, which is the most reliable method for diagnosing cervical cancer and precancerous lesions. It can be identified as carcinoma in situ or invasive carcinoma. It can also identify other cervical lesions such as tuberculosis, ulcers, polyps, papilloma, etc.