Vaccination/Screening
It is important to know the HPV vaccine prevents cervical cancer. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that all girls and boys receive the HPV vaccine at age 11 or 12. Also, it is recommended that all women between the ages of 21 and 65 undergo regular screening examinations for cervical cancer. Screening examinations allow the doctor to detect cervical cancer and pre-cancerous changes in the cervix early, before the patient experiences any symptoms. It is important to know the HPV vaccine prevents cervical cancer. Here are the screening tests the doctor may recommend:
Pelvic examination
The doctor will feel the cervix, vagina, uterus, ovaries, and rectum with gloved, lubricated fingers to check for any abnormalities in the cervix or nearby organs. A rectal examination is important since it allows the doctor to feel deep in the pelvis for any growths which might not be felt on a vaginal exam. The doctor will use a speculum to examine the cervix and vagina for any signs of disease.
Pap test
In this procedure, the doctor uses a special brush to scrape cells from the surface of the cervix and vagina. The doctor then sends these cells to a laboratory to be examined for any abnormalities or signs of cervical cancer.
Human papillomavirus (HPV) test
In this procedure, the doctor uses a special brush to scrape cells from the surface of the cervix and vagina. These cells are then sent to a laboratory to be examined for any DNA changes that may indicate an HPV infection. The doctor may use the same sample removed during a pap test.
Diagnosis
If you have any symptoms of cervical cancer or your Pap test results indicate that cervical cancer might be present, your doctor may conduct the following tests to diagnose and stage the disease:
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Colposcopy
Your doctor uses a device called a colposcope to examine the surface of your cervix. A colposcope is a device with magnifying binocular lenses that allows your doctor to examine your cervix in greater detail during a speculum examination.
Colposcopic Biopsy
Your doctor will use biopsy forceps to remove a sample of abnormal tissue from the cervix, after examining it with a colposcope. Your doctor will have it sent to a lab to be examined under a microscope. This is called a biopsy and is the only way to tell for sure if cancer is present.
Endocervical curettage (ECC)
The “transformation zone” is an area of the cervix in between the endocervix and the exocervix where most precancerous changes occur. This area is sometimes difficult to examine with a colposcope, so your doctor will use an instrument called a curette to scrape a tissue sample from the inside of your cervix.
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Cone Biopsy
Your doctor will remove a cone-shaped tissue sample from the “transformation zone” to see how deeply cancer cells have invaded beneath the surface of the cervix. Your doctor may perform a LEEP (loop electrosurgical procedure) cone biopsy and use a wire heated by electricity to remove the tissue sample. Your doctor may also use a regular scalpel or a carbon dioxide laser to perform this procedure. These procedures are sometimes done in the office while other times in an operating room.
Chest X-Ray
X-rays use electromagnetic radiation to produce images of the inside of your body. Your doctor may order a chest X-ray to see whether the cancer has spread to your lungs.
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Computed tomography (CT) scan
A computed tomography (CT) scan uses X-rays to produce an image of your body. A special dye may be injected into your veins and you may be asked to drink a special fluid in order to make the internal organs stand out. A CT scan reveals the presence of tumors and whether or not the cancer has spread to other parts of your body.
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Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) uses radio waves and a powerful magnet to produce detailed images of body parts. Radio waves are absorbed by the body and then released in a certain pattern, which is translated by a computer in order to show “slices” of the body. Doctors use MRIs to assess cancer spread and look at the brain and spinal cord.
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Positron emission tomography (PET) scan
For a PET scan, the doctor injects a radioactive substance into your bloodstream. This substance collects in malignant (cancerous) cells in your body. The doctor then uses a PET scanner to detect these areas of radioactivity and to find the exact location of cancer in the body.
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Cystoscopy
Your doctor may recommend a cystoscopy if you have already been diagnosed with cervical cancer and he/she thinks the cancer may have spread to your bladder. Your doctor will use a thin tube with a camera and light on the end to check your bladder for any signs of cancer spread.
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Proctoscopy
Your doctor may recommend a proctoscopy if you have already been diagnosed with cervical cancer and he/she thinks the cancer may have spread to your rectum. Your doctor will use a thin tube with a camera and light on the end to check your rectum for any signs of cancer spread.
