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It is important to detect the disease when it is in the pre cancerous stage because with proper treatment at this time the cure rate is almost 100%. The following are the means of detection.
- Pap Smear
- Colposcopy
- Cone Biopsy
Pap Smear
This cytological screening test was first suggested by Papanicalaou in 1947 and adopted for use since the 1960's. The smear is used to reveal exfoliated cells collected from the cervix that may be pre-cancerous or cancerous. If your Pap smear is abnormal and you are advised to go for further tests and treatment by your doctor, please do so. If untreated, a pre-cancerous lesion has the potential to become an invasive cancer. The use of the test has decreased the death rate of women from cancer of the cervix. It has also reduced the incidence of women having established cancer of the cervix.
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How is Pap smear done? This simple procedure can be done as an outpatient and takes about 5 minutes only. The patient lies on her back with the knees drawn up and apart. The doctor passes the speculum up the vagina. The cervix is displayed using the vaginal speculum. The surface cells of the cervix are scrapped and smeared onto a slide for viewing under a microscope. If abnormal cervical cells are seen after staining, further tests should be performed. Sometimes, monilia (fungus), trichomonas (parasitic infection) or bacterial infections are seen. These can be treated by medication. |
Pap Smear Result
It will indicate whether the smear is normal or abnormal. If you have an abnormal test, your doctor might advise further investigations.
Pap Smear Screening Frequency
An initial smear should be performed once a woman is sexually active and repeated after one year. After that, the Pap smear can be done annually or once in 2 - 3 years as advised by your doctor.
You can get your Pap smear at the following places:
- Family doctor’s clinic,
- Gynecologist’s clinic, and
- The Singapore Cancer Society’s headquarters & Boon Keng clinic (please see Cancer Screening)
Colposcopy
The colposcope is a binocular microscope which allows a magnified stereoscopic view of the cervix. The cells and the distribution of the vessels are seen. Abnormal distribution of the blood vessels and cells may be detected.
A biopsy is taken (a piece of tissue taken for microscopic examination) if any abnormalities are found.
Treatment of pre-cancer of the cervix may be by laser, surgery, electrocautery, or cold coagulation.
Cone Biopsy
A cone of tissue is cut out of the cervix to include the whole of the abnormal area and leave as much normal cervical tissue as possible. A cone biopsy is required when the upper limit of possible abnormalities cannot be seen by the colposcope. In pre-cancer of the cervix, removal of all the abnormal tissue by cone biopsy can be a form of treatment.
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