Researchers have identified a number of risk factors for cervical cancer. Multiple sexual partners, early onset of sexual activity, early childbearing, and exposure to sexually transmitted diseases all increase a woman’s chances of developing cervical cancer. If a pap smear detects abnormalities, the doctor may perform a Human Papillomavirus (HPV) test. HPV is the
sexually transmitted virus that causes 99.7 percent of all cases of cervical cancer. HPV testing used alone, without a pap smear, detects 98 percent of cerivical cancers; used together, the tests detect virtually 100 percent of all cases. The presence of HPV does not necessarily indicate cancer.
In addition to these tests, your doctor can perform a colposcopy to pinpoint areas of concern in the cervix. A cervical biopsy, also called a cone biopsy, confirms cervical cancer by removing a cone-sized sample of suspicious tissue from the wall of the cervix and analyzing it for cancerous cells.
Treatment of cervical cancer depends on a number of factors, including the age of the woman, the type and progression of the disease, and the woman’s desire to retain her childbearing ability. Surgical options exist and range from localized surgery for surface lesions to a radical hysterectomy for cancer that has spread beyond the cervix. Cryosurgery, or the destruction of tissue by freezing, is an option for women who desire children in the future. Finally, a combination of radiation therapy and chemotherapy are used to treat invasive cervical cancer.
