The aim of the Pap Screening programme is to detect precancerous lesions before they become cancerous, so that they can be treated.
After my second ever Pap test, I got a letter to say that the results were abnormal. I freaked out as I hadn't even considered that the results would be anything but normal, after all, I have regular periods and have never had any gynae problems before. I had to see the GP again, and then he sent me to see a Gynaecologist for a colposcopy (nothing like having someone look 'down there' with a huge microcope!). It was all OK in the end but I did have a few weeks panicking.
Kelly, 22
Treatment
How are abnormal cervical cells and pre-cancers treated?
Abnormal cervical cells can be divided into "low-grade" and "high-grade" abnormalities. Low-grade changes are almost always benign or non-cancerous. Many women can have a low-grade lesion which will clear without causing any lasting effects.
According to current Australian guidelines, if a woman's Pap test shows low-grade changes, her healthcare professional may advise a repeat Pap test sooner than 2 years (usually after 6 or 12 months). Sometimes colposcopy (an examination of the cervix with a special microscope) may also be offered, either straight away or after the repeat Pap test, if it shows that the low grade changes are still present.
While most high-grade changes will eventually go away, occasionally high-grade changes will progress to cervical cancer if left untreated. This usually takes a number of years, although in rare cases it can happen sooner.
If a woman's Pap test shows high-grade, pre-cancerous changes she will be referred for a colposcopy. In many cases, during the colposcopy a small piece of tissue (a biopsy) will be taken from the cervix. If the biopsy confirms the woman has a high-grade cervical lesion (referred to as CIN 2 or 3), she will most likely be offered surgery to remove the affected part of the cervix. This can be done using a variety of ways including amongst other techniques, surgical excision and laser removal. This usually requires a day stay in hospital.
How is cervical cancer treated?
If, after colposcopy and biopsy, a woman is found to have cancer of the cervix, rather than a pre-cancer, she will usually be referred to a specialised cancer gynaecologist for further assessment and management. The cancer may be staged according to the level of invasiveness. Usually, treatment for cervical cancer involves surgery to remove the cancer (including local excision, hysterectomy) and/or radiotherapy with or without additional chemotherapy depending on the size or stage of the tumour. If detected early, cervical cancer can be treated, but as with any medical condition prevention or early detection is always best if it is available.
