Never Too Young for Cervical Cancer
Nisha Samson | Feb 19, 2007
Any woman who is 18 years and over who is sexually active MUST do a Pap smear test. If detected early, cervical cancer can be cured.
Get Tested Today
The Pap smear test and the Colposcopy are two of the most common tests to check for cervical cancer.
The Pap smear test checks for changes in the cervix. It looks for any abnormalities in the cervix, change in the cells and also checks for cervical cancer. It can detect pre-cancerous and cancerous cells. If done as advised, it can be used as a preventive measure.
Preparing for Pap
Two days before your Pap test avoid sexual intercourse, tampons, the use of vaginal creams and birth control foams.
The Colposcopy uses an electric microscope to check for abnormalities in the cervix.
Other tests include a biopsy where a piece of the cervical tissue is taken for a laboratory examination. Depending on the results of your Pap test, your doctor may administer a few more major tests to confirm if it is cervical cancer.
Perfect Timing
The best time to take the test is within 10-20 days of the first day of your period.
Treatment
Cervical cancer is treated through surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy. The course of treatment depends on the extent of cancer and size of the tumour.
Surgery involves removal of the cancerous tissue. In extreme cases a hysterectomy (the uterus is removed).
Radiation therapy uses high energy rays to destroy the cancer cells and stop them from spreading.
Chemotherapy uses drugs to kill cancer cells.
The type of treatment recommended depends on the stage of cancer. In some cases a combination of treatments is administered.
(With inputs from Dr. Chetna Bakshi, Medical Oncologist and Consultant at Jaslok Hospital and Research Centre)
Get Tested Today
The Pap smear test and the Colposcopy are two of the most common tests to check for cervical cancer.
The Pap smear test checks for changes in the cervix. It looks for any abnormalities in the cervix, change in the cells and also checks for cervical cancer. It can detect pre-cancerous and cancerous cells. If done as advised, it can be used as a preventive measure.
Preparing for Pap
Two days before your Pap test avoid sexual intercourse, tampons, the use of vaginal creams and birth control foams.
The Colposcopy uses an electric microscope to check for abnormalities in the cervix.
Other tests include a biopsy where a piece of the cervical tissue is taken for a laboratory examination. Depending on the results of your Pap test, your doctor may administer a few more major tests to confirm if it is cervical cancer.
Perfect Timing
The best time to take the test is within 10-20 days of the first day of your period.
Treatment
Cervical cancer is treated through surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy. The course of treatment depends on the extent of cancer and size of the tumour.
Surgery involves removal of the cancerous tissue. In extreme cases a hysterectomy (the uterus is removed).
Radiation therapy uses high energy rays to destroy the cancer cells and stop them from spreading.
Chemotherapy uses drugs to kill cancer cells.
The type of treatment recommended depends on the stage of cancer. In some cases a combination of treatments is administered.
(With inputs from Dr. Chetna Bakshi, Medical Oncologist and Consultant at Jaslok Hospital and Research Centre)
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