Vaginal discharge
In sexually active women, vaginal discharge is more likely to be caused by a vaginal infection. However, malignant tumors would also cause a very characteristic vaginal discharge, usually brownish or pale, often mixed with blood, and with a foul odor. In cervical cancer, vaginal discharge is caused by dead tumor cells that were not able to get enough oxygen from the newly formed blood vessels. These cells die off, and they are decomposed by the vaginal bacteria, causing an overgrowth and the characteristic smelly discharge.