According to the INCA, the estimated cervical cancer for 2012 is 17,540 new cases. This is the second most frequent tumor in the female population, behind only breast cancer, and the fourth leading cause of cancer death in women in Brazil.
Cervical cancer, also called cervical cancer, takes many years to develop. Cell changes that can trigger the disease are easily discovered through the preventive test, also known as Pap smears, so periodic testing is important.
The test is performed with a sample of cells from the surface of the cervix, assessing whether there are abnormalities that may develop future cancer.
The preventive may also encounter non-cancerous conditions such as viral infections of the cervix such as genital warts caused by HPV, human papilloma virus, herpes, and vaginal infections caused by fungi such as candidiasis or protozoa such as Trichomonas vaginalis. The test can also give information on hormone levels, especially estrogen and progesterone.
Why take the Pap smear
Cervical cancer develops approximately 10 years after contact with the HPV virus. Because they are slow-growing, periodic Pap smears are unlikely to develop cervical cancer because early-detected abnormalities can be treated before the cancer appears.
? Early diagnosed women, if treated properly, have a nearly 100% chance of cure. adds Leandro Moreira, doctoral student in medicine at the Faculty of Medicine of Valença.
Who should do the preventive
The test should be started at least three years after the onset of active sex life or at age 21, whichever comes first. Even if the woman at 21 is a virgin, she should do the preventive. Collection may be discontinued at age 65 if previous examinations are repeatedly normal.
What is the ideal range of achievement
Examination interval ranges from one to three years based on the presence of risk factors such as:
- Early onset of sexual activity;
- History of multiple sexual partners;
- History of having had partner with genital infections;
- Past cancer of vulva or vagina;
- Having a partner with a history of penile cancer
- Be a smoker;
- Being immunosuppressed.
How to prepare for the exam
The best period for the exam is at least one week before menstruation. The exam should not be scheduled during the menstrual period as this factor may alter the outcome of the exam.
The use of vaginal creams or showers should be avoided for 48 hours prior to the examination and should not have sex at least 24 hours prior to the procedure so as not to modify the natural microorganisms of the vagina or vaginal pH.
Your doctor should be informed if:
- Being pregnant;
- Have vaginal leukorrhea, ie discharge;
- Submit a previous preventive exam with any abnormalities.
What are the preventive procedures?
It is a fairly simple exam. The woman is in the gynecological position, lying down, knees bent and legs apart; Does the doctor introduce a speculum into the vagina? object that can be plastic or metal, which facilitates the visualization of the entire vagina and cervix; Using a spatula and brush removes material from the cervical orifice and vaginal wall, removes the introduced speculum and places the collected material on a microscope slide, which is then submitted for analysis in a cytopathology laboratory.
There is no pain during the exam, some women feel mild discomfort. It is important to remain relaxed during the procedure to facilitate the introduction of the speculum. The exam takes a few minutes. Because material is collected from the cervix, there may sometimes be slight bleeding at the site. The presence of pain or maintenance of bleeding should be promptly reported to the gynecologist.
What to expect after taking the exam
The test results are sent to your doctor in about a month, depending on the laboratory. With the arrival of the test result, the doctor informs the patient about the results.
Pap smear results
Pap smear results are divided into:
- Class I: absence of abnormal cells in the body, ie a normal examination;
- Class II: usually indicates an inflammation or infection;
- Class III: Abnormal cells present.In this class, it is also possible that the patient has dysplasia, a reversible cell injury triggered by chronic irritants;
- Class IV: examination considered suspect for some type of disease;
- Class V: there is the presence of neoplasia, ie tumoral lesion.
Assessment and follow-up after examination
If the test results are normal, no treatment is required. The doctor will schedule another Pap smear one or two years later. If the exam detects an infection, the doctor will indicate the procedures for the proper treatment.
In case of abnormalities in the exam, other exams will be performed, such as colposcopy and biopsy, so that the doctor can determine the cause and present the treatment options.
Cervical Cancer Prevention: Pap Smear Screening Guidelines (April 2024)
- Cancer, Prevention and Treatment
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