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Cervical cancer Pap tests and dysplasiaCervical cancer develops in stages. Pap testsare useful because they can detect abnormal cellchanges that may one day become cancerous. Early detection means they can be treated before cancer happens. These changes are known as dysplasia. Pap tests are not designed to pick up cancer, although they sometimes do. Pap testA Pap test checks for abnormal cellchanges in the cervixat the top of the vagina. It is a screening test to find early warning signs that cancer might develop in the future. If abnormal cell changes are found, your doctor may advise further tests to see if treatment is needed. The Pap test is quick and simple. The doctor or nurse gently inserts an instrument called a speculum into the vagina. This allows the cervix to be clearly seen. A small sample of cells are taken from the cervix and placed on to a glass slide. The slide is then sent to laboratory, where it is examined under a microscope. The result usually comes back to your doctor or nurse within two weeks. Ask when you should contact your doctor to find out your result. You may bleed a little after a Pap test. Regular Pap tests can find most cell changes that could become cancerous if not detected and treated. It is advised that women have a Pap test once every two years. Women who have had abnormal cell changes may need to have more frequent Pap tests for a period of time. Visit PapScreen Victoria for more information about Pap tests. DysplasiaDysplasiameans abnormal changes in the cellsof the cervix. Abnormal cell changes are grouped as:
Doctors may call abnormal cell changes ‘cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN)'. CIN is graded into CIN I, CIN II and CIN III: that is, mild, moderate and severe cervical cell changes. These are not cancer but could develop into cancer if not treated. Sometimes the term ‘carcinoma in situ' is used to describe abnormal cell changes in the cervix. These changes are high-grade (serious) and need further tests. Cervical cancerThere are two main types of cervical cancer, named after the type of cellthey start in. Squamous cell carcinoma, the most common type of cervical cancer, starts in the squamous or skin-like cells that cover the outer surface of the cervixat the top of the vagina. Adenocarcinomais a less common type of cervical cancer. It starts in the glandular cells, in the cervical canal. In addition, cervical cancer may be microinvasive or invasive. Microinvasive cervical cancerThis is when cancer cells have just broken through the bottom layer of the skin of the cervix. At this stage, the cells have not spread more than 5mm into the tissues of the cervix. Invasive cervical cancerThis is when cancer cells have spread from the surface skin of the cervixinto the deeper tissuesof the cervix. The cancer may also have spread to part of the vagina or to the lymph nodesand other tissues around the cervix, within the pelvis, or beyond the genital and pelvic areas into nearby organs. MORE INFORMATION from CCV |
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