Cervical cancer has a tendency to spread locally before it metastasizes to distant organs. When confined to the pelvis or regional lymph nodes, it may be cured with radical surgery, chemoradiation, or both. Despite advances in early detection, women without adequate screening can present with advanced stage disease. In the presence of distant metastasis, cervical cancer is generally not curable, and treatment is of palliative intent.

Patients may have any of the following signs and symptoms:
- anxiety and depression
- deep venous thrombosis
- dyspnea from anemia or pulmonary involvement
- lower extremity edema
- pelvic or back pain
- uremia from ureteral obstruction
- urinary or bowel fistulas
- vaginal bleeding or discharge

See reference for more information.

Adapted from Medscape Drugs & Diseases. Palliative care of the patient with advanced gynecologic cancer. Available at http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/270646-overview#a2. Accessed on August 31, 2016. To view the entire article and all other content on the Medscape Drugs & Diseases site, a free, one-time registration is required.