Patients often want to know which tests they can do to pick up cancer. The answer is simple: start with doing your monthly breast examination and yearly Pap test. Women 39 years and older can add a mammogram, and women over 50 can have a colonoscopy to rule out colon cancer.
This month is Cervical Cancer Awareness Month. Cervical cancer is the third most common cancer and the fourth leading cause of death in women worldwide. The primary cause of this cancer is infection with human papillomavirus (HPV). Since cervical cancer is usually asymptomatic in the early stages, screening is important. It is one of the few cancers that can be easily detected at pre-malignancy phase. The screening test, which is known as the Pap test, is an effective method for early detection. During a Pap test, cells from the mouth of the cervix are collected with a brush, saved and sent off to the pathology laboratory. The pathologist can pick up pre-malignant cells, HPV, bacterial and fungal elements. The treatment needed for abnormal cervical cell changes depends on whether you have mild, moderate or severe changes.
Many women with mild changes don’t need treatment as the changes go back to normal on their own. This is usually confirmed by repeating the test after three months. For moderate to severe changes, your gynaecologist will do a biopsy during a procedure called colposcopy. LLETZ stands for large loop excision of the transformation zone. It’s also known as loop electrosurgical excision (LEEP) or loop diathermy. This is the most common treatment for abnormal cervical cells. It is a small procedure that can save your life!
By Dr Deseré Ferreira