Diagnosing Cervical Cancer

Diagnosing cervical cancer involves a series of medical tests and procedures. Each test reveals more about the cervix and helps to confirm diagnosis. Once a cervical cancer diagnosis has been made, more tests will be done to determine what stage the cervical cancer is in.

Diagnosing Cervical Cancer

The Pap Smear: The Pap Smear is often the first step in diagnosing cervical cancer. For women who do not get regular Pap smears or have never had one, it can be persistent symptoms that prompt them to seek medical attention. Cervical cancer symptoms do not often appear until the disease has progressed. This is why a regular Pap smear is vital to a woman's health.

• What to Expect During a Pap Smear
  
• How Often Should You Have A Pap Smear?
  
• Tips for a More Accurate Pap Smear

Colposcopy: If a Pap smear has come back abnormal or symptoms suggest a cervical abnormality, then a doctor will order a colposcopy. A colposcopy is an examination of the cervix with a colposcope, a lighted instrument that magnifies the cervix. The colposcope remains outside of the vagina during the examination.

• What to Expect During a Colposcopy?
  
• How to Prepare for a Colposcopy

Cervical Biopsy: Depending on the findings during the colposcopy, the doctor may want to do a biopsy of the cervix. A cervical biopsy is performed during a colposcopy. It is relatively painless and does not usually require local anesthesia. Results generally come back in less than two weeks.

• What to Expect During a Cervical Biopsy

Endocervical Curettage: Also known as ECC, an endocervical curettage uses a curette or soft brush to remove tissue from the endocervical canal. The endocervical canal is the narrow passageway connecting the cervix to the uterus. The sample is then sent to pathology lab, where it is examined under a microscope for cancerous cells.

An ECC is performed during a colposcopy and takes less than minutes to perform. Some women do report brief, moderate discomfort.

Cone Biopsy or Conization: Under general anesthesia, a doctor will remove a cone-shaped tissue sample. This allows the pathologist to examine cells below the surface of the cervix. Conization is also used to remove precancerous area on the cervix.

• What to Expect During a Cone Biopsy

LEEP:Loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP) is a procedure most commonly done to treat high-grade cervical dysplasia. Less commonly, it is used to diagnose cervical cancer.

Like conization, a LEEP involves removing tissue to be examined by a pathologist. With a LEEP, cervical tissue is removed by an electrically charged wire loop, under local anesthesia. LEEPs are commonly performed in a doctor's office.

What to Expect During a LEEP

Staging Cervical Cancer

After a cervical cancer diagnosis has been made, the next step is to identify what stage the cervical cancer is in. There are four cervical cancer stages, with stage I being early cervical cancer, and stage IV being cervical cancer that has progressed and spread to other organs in the body.

Treatment options vary based on the stage of the cancer. Cervical cancer that has progressed generally requires more aggressive therapies like chemotherapy and radiation, with early stages requiring surgery.

• Cervical Cancer Stages

There are several medical tests used to stage cervical cancer. These include, but are not limited to:

• physical exam
  
• ultrasound
  
• chest x-rays
  
• cystoscopy
  
• MRI
  
• CT Scan

References

1. _{"What You Need to Know About Cervical Cancer." 03 March 2005. National Cancer Institute. 15 Apr 2007.}
   
2. "How Cervical Cancer is Diagnosed." 04 Aug 2006. American Cancer Society. 15 Apr 2007.
   
3. "How is Cervical Cancer Staged?." Deatiled Guide Cervical Cancer. 04 Aug 2006. American Cancer Society. 15 Apr 2007.