Cancer of Cervix is a preventable cancer.
Pap smear is a test your doctor does to check for signs of pre-cancer of the cervix. The cervix is part of your womb that is felt inside the vagina. During this test, your doctor takes a sample of cells from your cervix to be tested.
To take the sample, your doctor will put a special instrument called a speculum into your vagina. This helps open your vagina so the sample can be taken. Your doctor will gently clean your cervix with a cotton swab and then collect a sample of cells with a small brush and a tiny spatula. This is put on a glass slide and sent to a lab .
These cells on the slide are checked for signs of changes from normal. Cells go through a series of changes before they turn into cancer.These changes are called pre-cancer lesion.A Pap smear can show if your cells are going through these changes long before you have cancer. Cervical cancer is not life-threatening if it's caught early. This is why getting regular Pap smears is important.
A positive Pap smear can be a sign of a number of changes in the cells on your cervix:
Inflammation . This can be caused by an infection of the cervix, including a yeast infection, infection with the human papillomavirus (HPV) or herpes virus.
Very early signs of cancer. These changes are called dysplasia.
More serious signs of cancer. These changes affect the top layers of the cervix but don't go deep into the cervix. This is called "carcinoma in situ."
More advanced cancer. Full-blown or invasive cancer
You should have your first Pap smear when you start having sex.
Continue having a Pap smear once a year until you've had at least 3 normal ones. After this, you should have a Pap smear at least every 3 years, unless your doctor thinks you need them more often. Keep having Pap smears throughout your life, even after you've gone through menopause.
Certain things put you at higher risk of cervical cancer. Your doctor will consider these when recommending how often you should have a Pap smear.
No test is perfect, but the Pap smear is a reliable test. It has helped drastically reduce the number of women who die of cervical cancer.
Sometimes the test may need to be redone because there were not enough cells on the slide.
ThinPrep is another way to make Pap smears more accurate. ThinPrep is a way of preparing the sample of cells that makes it easier to spot abnormalities. There are computer systems that help lab technicians find abnormal cells.
Plan to have your test done at a time when you aren't having your menstrual period. Don't douche, use a feminine deodorant or have sex for 24 hours before the test.
If the results of your Pap smear are positive, your doctor may want you to have a colposcopy.
A colposcopy gives your doctor a better look at your cervix and allows him or her to take a sample of tissue, a biopsy. Your doctor will use an instrument called a colposcope to shine a light on your cervix and magnify it. Your doctor will explain the results and discuss treatment options with you.
Risk factors for cervical cancer
Starting sex early, before age 20
Many sexual partners
Being infected with an STD or having a sex partner who has an STD
Smoking
Using birth control pills and giving birth to many children when also infected with HPV
You may be able to reduce your risk of cervical cancer if you:
Delay sexual intercourse until 20 years of age or older.
Have only 1 sex partner who doesn't have an STD and is only having sex with you.
Limit your number of sex partners.
Always use latex condoms to protect against sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).
Avoid smoking.
Cervical Cancer is preventable, get your pap smears done regularly.
