A woman who was diagnosed with cervical cancer has opened up about the warning signs she ignored in a bid to help others.
Cervical cancer often develops silently, with symptoms that can be mistaken for minor health issues.
This was the case for popular content creator Natasha, who received a shocking cervical cancer diagnosis just days before her 30th birthday.
Now, she is using her platform to raise awareness, sharing the four symptoms she dismissed.
“Girls, if you have these four symptoms, this is not saying you’ve got cervical cancer, but they are definitely signs that you need to get checked,” Natasha advises. “Don’t miss your smears.”
Like many women, Natasha had a history of irregular menstrual cycles. When she experienced unexpected spotting, she initially ignored it.
“I didn’t see this as a big issue. It was,” she shared in a TikTok video that has gained over 1.2 million views.
Irregular vaginal bleeding is one of the most common warning signs of cervical cancer. This can include bleeding between periods, after intercourse, or post-menopause.
It may also involve prolonged periods lasting beyond seven days or an unusually heavy flow.
Dr. Monica Avila, a gynecological oncologist, noted that many patients assume changes in their cycle are due to diet or supplements.
“I hear it all the time,” she told Glamour. “If there’s any abnormal bleeding, it’s important to come in [for an exam].”
Discomfort or pain during sex is a common experience, affecting nearly 75% of women at some point. However, persistent pain may be a sign of an underlying condition.
“I can’t even explain to you how it felt. All I can say is that it wasn’t nice and it wasn’t pleasant,” Natasha said. “But again, because I kind of just had quite rubbish periods and period pains, I put it down to that all the time. I was wrong.”
@mybraindumpingground 4 signs & symptoms of cervical cancer i ignored SO YOU DONT HAVE TO. #cervicalcancer ♬ original sound – Natasha’s Brain Dumping Ground
As cervical cancer progresses, tumors can irritate surrounding tissues and nerves in the pelvic area, leading to pain during intercourse.
Dr. Lauren Streicher, a clinical professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Northwestern University’s medical school, explained that pain during sex can also stem from non-serious causes.
“It can mean inflammation of the cervix, a vaginal infection or cervical polyp – all of these are nonserious causes – which is why the general mantra is that if anything doesn’t seem right and is consistent, get it checked out,” she told Prevention.
Cancer can be physically draining, leaving patients exhausted despite adequate rest.
“I used to sleep a full night and all I’d want to do is nap all day,” Natasha recalled. “The level of tiredness that I felt, I’ve never felt anything like it in all of my life.”
Fatigue is a common symptom of advanced cervical cancer, as cancer cells deplete the body’s energy reserves. However, it may also indicate other conditions, such as anemia.
Back pain is a frequent complaint, but when it becomes persistent, it warrants attention. Natasha initially attributed her lower back pain to the lingering effects of an epidural from childbirth.
“When I had cancer before I knew it, it was more intense and it was all the time,” she said. “But again, I thought it was just my back pain getting worse.”
Pain in the lower back, pelvis, or appendix area can be a symptom of cervical cancer, particularly in advanced stages.
“This is only a symptom of cervical cancer that has become quite advanced, so is only something to really worry about when it coincides with the above symptoms,” Dr. Jan Schaefer, chief medical officer at Medigo, told Cosmopolitan UK.
Now in remission, Natasha has lost the ability to have more children following a major surgery that removed her womb, fallopian tubes, cervix, a third of her vagina, pelvic lymph nodes, and the muscles surrounding her bladder.
Despite the effect on her body, she remains grateful for her survival and urges women to prioritize cervical cancer screenings.
Cervical cancer was once one of the leading causes of death among American women. However, increased screening and advancements in prevention, such as the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, have significantly reduced both incidence and mortality rates.
The American Cancer Society estimates that in 2025, approximately 13,360 new cases of invasive cervical cancer will be diagnosed in the U.S., with around 4,320 women dying from the disease.
