A Look into the Diagnosis and Stages of Cervical Cancer

Cervical cancer is a common cancer among women. Many have probably heard of it especially since the cervical cancer vaccine Gardasil was advertised on television not long ago. However, the commercials always failed to explain the cancer or how it is diagnosed. Hopefully after reading this article one will better understand the diagnosis and stages of the cancer itself.

The best prevention for cervical cancer is a yearly Papanicolaou tests (also called Pap smears or Pap tests) from a gynecologist. A pap smear is a test that involves gathering some cervical cells from the outside of the cervix and inspecting them under a microscope to look for any abnormal cells. The grading system consists of five classes to describe the results of the test. Class I is the result when cells are normal and have no signs of malignancy. If atypical cells are found, this does not mean an individual has cancer nor is it a precursor to cancer. Abnormal cells can be caused by infections and are often temporary. In this case, the result would be a considered class II. If the result is considered class III, there are abnormal cells that are not invasive but they could also change back to normal. Class IV also consists of abnormal cells that are less likely to change back to normal than the class III cell types. Class V is the result when the individual has invasive cancer. If a pap test ever shows abnormal cells, the gynecologist may recommend retesting in a few months to assure that the abnormal cells are not due to an infection. If the test once more proves that the cervix has abnormalities, then the gynecologist may want to look at the tissue of the cervix with a colposcope. In this procedure, the doctor will also biopsy a portion of the irregular tissue to send to a pathologist to examine. If it is found that the tissue is indeed cancerous, then treatment will be started.¹

Treatment and prognosis are dependent on the extent of the cancer. Cervical cancer has different stages defined the American Joint Committee on Cancer’s (AJCC) TNM classification. TNM classification system has three parts to it. The T represents the size of the tumor; N describes lymph node involvement, and M stands for distant metastasis (spread of cancer to other parts of the body). Within in each part there are different numbers that represent the assessment of the tumor, nodes, or metastasis. The AJCC’s definition of the cancer stages involve each of the three parts of the TNM classification and have stages 0-IV. If you desire to know exactly what each are, go to the National Cancer Institute’s website at the following web address: http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/cervical/HealthProfessional/page4. ²

The most important part of preventing cervical cancer is annual Papanicolaou tests from a gynecologist. This assures that any abnormalities are caught early and watched for development to allow for a better prognosis for the individual.¹ It’s also encouraged that females 9 to 26 years of age get the Gardasil vaccine to help improve chance of avoiding cervical cancer.³

By: Jasmine Cessna

References:
1. Minkin, Mary Jane, and Carol Wright. The Yale Guide to Women’s Reproductive Health. New Haven: Yale University Press, 2003.
2. National Cancer Institute. 16 May 2008. National Cancer Institute. 24 January 2009.
3. Gardasil. 2008. Merck & Co., Inc. 24 January 2009 .