Is mid- to late-stage uterine cancer serious?

Since cervical cancer is difficult to treat in the late stage, many patients and their families are concerned about how long they can live with cervical cancer. Let's listen to what experts say about this question. The mortality rate of cervical cancer is getting higher and higher in my country. Since its early symptoms are not very obvious, it is easy to be ignored. By the time it is discovered, it is often in the middle or late stage.

Patients with cervical precancerous lesions generally do not show obvious symptoms, or only have symptoms of general cervicitis, such as increased leucorrhea. Some patients also complain of bloody leucorrhea or a small amount of vaginal bleeding after sexual contact. Severe cervical intraepithelial neoplasia is a precancerous lesion. It is reversible, that is, some lesions can disappear naturally, but it is also progressive, that is, the lesions can develop and even become cancerous. Its reversibility and progression are related to the scope and degree of the lesion. The possibility of mild intraepithelial neoplasia disappearing naturally is significantly greater than that of moderate and severe lesions. The possibility of severe intraepithelial neoplasia developing into cancer is significantly greater than that of mild and moderate lesions. Some scholars also believe that mild cervical intraepithelial neoplasia is a benign abnormal proliferation that can naturally return to normal. The survival period of cervical cancer patients is related to many factors. Many patients and their families also want to know how long they can live with cervical cancer, but how long they can live with cervical cancer mainly depends on whether appropriate treatment measures are taken in time.

1. Pain is one of the main symptoms of advanced cervical cancer. The tumor extends along the adjacent tissues, invades the pelvic wall, and compresses the peripheral nerves. The clinical manifestations are persistent pain in the sciatic nerve or one side of the sacral and iliac regions. The tumor compresses or erodes the ureter, causing narrowing and obstruction of the ureter, leading to hydronephrosis, which manifests as unilateral low back pain or even severe pain, and further develops into renal failure or even uremia. The invasion of the lymphatic system leads to obstruction of the lymphatic vessels, obstruction of reflux, and symptoms such as lower limb edema and pain.

2. Systemic symptoms will appear in the late stage of cervical cancer. Patients in the late stage will have fever due to the metabolism of tumor tissue, absorption of necrotic tissue or combined infection. The body temperature is generally around 38°C, and a few may reach above 39°C. Anemia, weight loss and even cachexia may occur due to bleeding and consumption.

3. Cervical cancer will have metastatic symptoms in the late stage. Generally, the cancer spreads forward and invades the bladder. Patients experience frequent urination, urgent urination, painful urination, prolapse and hematuria, which are often delayed by urinary tract infection. In severe cases, bladder-vaginal fistula may form. The cancer spreads backward and invades the rectum, causing prolapse, difficulty in defecation, tenesmus, blood in the stool, etc. Further development may cause vaginal-rectal fistula.