The ‘silent’ symptom of killer cancer you can spot when you have sex – and 5 other signs
UNFORTUNATLEY, pain during sex is very common — with nearly three out of four women experiencing it at some point in their lives.
In some cases, it can be a sign of a deadly cancer.
It’s one of several symptoms that can emerge when you have cancer of the vagina.
Vagina cancer is a rare form of the disease, responsible for around 250 new cases and 110 deaths in the UK each year.
It can be found anywhere in the vagina – which is the tube between the vulva and opening of the womb (cervix).
As with all types of cancer, the earlier it’s spotted, the more likely treatment will effective.
However, as many as 20 in 100 women (20 per cent) diagnosed with vaginal cancer don’t have symptoms at all.
So if you notice any worrying symptoms, it’s important to see your GP as soon as possible.
In the event of an emergency, always call 999.
The NHS have said there are five other key symptoms of vagina cancer to look out for:
- bleeding in between periods or after the menopause
- bleeding after sex
- vaginal discharge that smells or is blood stained
- a lump or growth in the vagina that you or your doctor can feel
- a vaginal itch that won’t go away
There are many other conditions that cause these symptoms.
Most of them are much more common than vaginal cancer.
But you should go to your GP straight away if you have any of these symptoms.