Dismissed as stress, recommended to go on walks, woman's symptoms turned out to be cancer

For 31 year old Holly Pardue, what was diagnosed as a response to stress and hormone, turned out to be a life threatening disease.

The mom of three sought medical help after persistently bleeding for six weeks, following the birth of her third child. The doctor recommended her contraceptive pills and "she was told it was likely due to 'stress and hormones' and advised her to 'get better nights' sleep' and 'go for some walks'," the Daily Mail reported.

"She pushed to have another smear test"

In 2023, she did one smear test, which gave her an all-clear. However, later when she went for another one, which revealed cervical cancer growth in her body which was in the first stage.

"But days later she was dealt a devastating blow after scans showed the disease was not only in her cervix but had spread to her lymph nodes around her pelvis and hips. She has since undergone intensive chemotherapy, radiotherapy and brachytherapy — a form of radiation therapy — with her treatment ending in October," the media outlet reported.

Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women

Cervical cancer develops in a woman's cervix (the entrance to the uterus from the vagina). It often develops silently in its early stages, making regular screenings crucial for early detection. However, as the disease progresses, noticeable symptoms may appear.

Some of the manifestations include irregular bleeding from the vagina, either inter-menstrual bleeding, postcoital bleeding, or postmenopausal bleeding. Bleeding can also be heavier or longer than usual menstruation. In addition, abnormal vaginal discharge may be watery, bloody, or malodorous in nature.

Another warning sign is pelvic pain or discomfort, which may occur persistently or without an apparent cause. In some women, there is a history of pain during or following coitus that might be a symptom of abnormal changes in the cervix. Advanced stages are characterized by back pain and leg swelling due to spread to tissues in the lower back.

Frequent urinary symptoms, such as painful urination, blood in urine, or a constant urge to urinate, may signal cancer affecting the bladder. In later stages, symptoms may include unexplained weight loss, fatigue, or loss of appetite.

Since early-stage cervical cancer often presents no symptoms, regular Pap smears and HPV tests are essential for early detection and prevention. If any unusual symptoms occur, seeking medical advice promptly can improve treatment outcomes.