Cervical Cancer and the Importance of Screening

More than 11,000 women are newly diagnosed with cervical cancer in the United States every year. The true key to preventing cervical cancer is screening. Cancer of the cervix, a very common female cancer, is a disease in which cancer cells are found in the tissues of the cervix (opening of the uterus). The cervix connects the uterus to the vagina.

Cancer of the cervix usually grows slowly over a period of time. Before cancer cells are found on the cervix, the tissues of the cervix go through changes in which abnormal cells begin to appear (dysplasia). These changes may lead to cancer.

The main cause of cervical cancer is a virus called human papillomavirus (HPV), which has many types. A few types cause cervical cancer. HPV is passed from person to person during sexual activity. Cells infected with HPV look abnormal under a microscope and can be detected by the Pap test.

Pap smears with HPV testing are an important part of all women’s health care. Testing for HPV in women 30 years and older can help predict whether abnormal cells (dysplasia) will be diagnosed in the next few years, even if Pap test results are normal. Routine screening tests help decrease the chance that abnormal cells are missed.

If the results of both the HPV test and Pap test are normal, the chance that you will develop mild or moderate dysplasia in the next 3–5 years is very low. These tests do not need to be repeated for another 3 years.

HPV testing is not recommended for women younger than 30 years. The immune system in young women tends to clear the virus quickly, and most often the infection will go away by itself. A positive HPV test result in a young woman (indicating that she does have one of the cancer-causing HPV types) will most likely become negative without treatment. For women over 30, HPV tends to persist and cause changes in cervical cells which may lead to cancer.

Many women have abnormal Pap test results which generally mean that atypical cells have been found. Depending on the results, your provider may order repeat Pap tests at regular intervals or perform colposcopy which allows closer examination of the cervix. A colposcope is a microscope-like device with a series of lenses that magnify the tissues in the cervix. If your cervical tissue appears abnormal, your health care provider may take a biopsy or sample to send to the lab for analysis. You may feel a slight pinch or cramp when the sample is collected.

Your provider will review the biopsy results with you. If results are positive, a plan for treatment and follow up will be made. It is important that you make and keep all follow up visits for abnormal Pap tests. Delays in treatment can result in abnormal cells developing into cervical cancer.

Treatments for cancer of the cervix depend on the stage of disease, the size of the tumor, age, overall physical condition, and a woman’s desire to have children. Treatment for women with cancer of the cervix may include surgery (removing the cancer in an operation); radiation therapy (using high-dose x-rays or other high-energy rays to kill cancer cells); and/or chemotherapy (using drugs to kill cancer cells). Your provider will work you and may consult with an oncologist who specializes in gynecologic cancers, as well as a team of cancer providers to provide you with the best treatment plan.