Understanding Cervical Cancer in Young Women

Cases of cervical cancer for people aged 49 years or younger are on the rise. Cervical cancer is the tenth most common cancer in Singaporean women. While cervical cancer can occur in women of all ages, it is more commonly diagnosed in younger women aged between 30 and 49-years-old. Cervical cancer is the fifth and sixth most common women’s cancer for 30 to 39-years-old and 40 to 49-years old respectively. It is very rare for young women under the age of 25 to develop cervical cancer.

Cervical cancer can be effectively treated and cured in its early stages. However, symptoms are unlikely to manifest until the disease becomes advanced. These symptoms are consistent in women of any age, including unusual vaginal bleeding, discharge, painful periods, pain during intercourse and pelvic pain. Despite this, young women may not understand the significance of symptoms, delaying their diagnosis. This is why HPV vaccination and regular screening are so important, where approximately 70% of cervical cancers caused by an infection the human papillomavirus (HPV).

Visit here to learn more about Icon Health Screening’s HPV vaccination services

Treatment for Cervical Cancer

Treatment for cervical cancer will depend on the type and stage of your cancer, your medical history and your individual treatment preferences.

1. Surgery
   There are a number of different surgical options depending on how far the cancer has spread. Each surgery will have a different impact on your fertility. Although any cancer treatment can affect fertility, there is less of an effect on early-stage cancer that has not spread outside the cervix.
2. Radiation therapy
   Radiation therapy may be used on its own or after surgery to help destroy any remaining cancer cells. For women with more advanced cervical cancers, it can be used in combination with chemotherapy to make the cancer cells more sensitive to radiation. This is called chemoradiation.
3. Systemic therapy
   Systemic treatments are delivered through the bloodstream. It includes chemotherapy, targeted therapy and immunotherapy.