Bleeding heavy enough to use a pad between periods. never happened before. my mom is a cervical cancer survivor. i'm concerned.

2 different things: Cervical cancer is a dangerous disease but typically easily preventable by following guidelines re pap smears. New guidelines are start a pap test at 21 years old. Bleeding is typically due to hormones and is a problem with how hormones affect the lining of uterus (not cervix). See a gynecologist though to discuss options to control bleeding between periods which isn't normal and controllable.