Leaflet6
Preventing cancer
of the cervix
NHS
Cancer Screening Programme
Cervical
screening is not a test for diagnosing cervical cancer. It is a test to check
the health of the cervix, which is the lower part of the womb (often called the
neck of the womb). For many women the test results show that everything is
fine. But for one in 10 women, the test shows changes in the cells that can be
caused by many things.
Most of these changes will not lead to cervical
cancer.
Why do I need cervical screening
Cervical cancer can often be prevented. The signs that it might develop can be
spotted early on, so it can be stopped before it even gets started. Cervical
screening saves more than 1000 lives in the
UK each year, but unfortunately
about 1500 women die from cervical cancer in the UK every year.
Should all women have the test?
We offer the test to all women aged between 20 and 64,
but cervical cancer is more common if you: * First had sex at an early age;
Smoke;
Do not use condoms;
Take immunosuppressant drugs (for example, after an
organ transplant).
If you have passed the menopause, you still need to be tested to check that your cervix is healthy.
Ask your
doctor for advice if you:
Have had a hysterectomy;
Are 65 or over;
Have never
had sex; or
You are not
sure whether you still need to be tested.
What is the NHS Cervical Screening
Programme?
The programme makes sure that, if you are aged between
20 and 64, you will automatically receive an invitation. We will get your name
from your doctor's list. This means it is important that your doctor always has
your correct name and address.
After your first
cervical screen, you will receive invitations every three to five years.
Who will carry out the test?
A doctor or nurse will do your test. If you would
prefer a female member of staff, please ask when you make your appointment.
We will ask you to
undress from the waist down, but if you wear a full skirt you will not have
to remove it.
What happens during the test?
The doctor or nurse will ask you to lie down on a
couch. They will then gently put a small instrument, called a speculum, into
your vagina to hold it open.
Then, they will wipe a smooth wooden or plastic
spatula over the cervix to pick up a few of the cells.
They will transfer these cells to a slide and send it away to be examined under a microscope. The
test
takes just a
few minutes.
Does the test hurt?
You might experience some discomfort or pain - try to
relax by taking slow, deep breaths because it
might hurt
more if you are tense. If it is painful,
tell the doctor or nurse
straightaway because
they might be able to reduce
your discomfort.
Is
there anything I should do before the test?
You cannot be tested during your period so make sure you get an appointment
before or after your period is due.
Can
I have sex before the test?
If you use a spermicide, a barrier method of contraception or a lubricant jelly, you should not use these for 24 hours
before the test as the chemicals they contain might affect the test.do
When do I get my results?
When you have
the test, the doctor or nurse will tell you how, where and
approximately when you will get your results. Make sure you have received this
information before you leave the surgery or clinic.
How reliable is cervical screening?
Early detection and treatment can prevent 80 to 90% of cancers developing but,
like other screening tests, it is not perfect. It might not always detect early
cell changes that can lead to cancer. Abnormal cells on your slide might not be
recognised because:
Sometimes they do not look much different from normal cells;
There might be very few abnormal cells
on the slide; or
The person reading your slide might miss the abnormality (this happens
occasionally, no matter how experienced the reader is).
If you have any unusual symptoms, such as bleeding after sex or between
periods, you should see your doctor.
What
does it mean if I am called back?
{About one
in 10 tests have to be taken again because:
You might have an infection that needs treating before a clear slide can be made;
The cervical cells on
your slide might have been hidden by blood or mucus;
There might not have been enough cervical cells on your slide to give an
accurate assessment;
Your sample might not have been
properly prepared; or
Your slide might have been broken}
Only very rarely does it mean that
you have cancer. It might simply mean that your sample did not show up clearly
and that we need to take another test. This is called an 'inadequate result'.
On the other hand, your result could identify some small changes in the cells
of the cervix. If abnormal changes (known as dyskaryosis) are detected, you
will have what is called an 'abnormal result'. This is not cancer. However,
sometimes cancer will be found when an abnormal test is investigated further.
For
more information about what an abnormal result means, you can read our cancer
screening programme leaflet ‘'What your abnormal result means'.
Can anything be done about abnormal changes?
Yes. Your doctor or nurse will explain what needs to be done. They might ask
you to come back for more cervical screening tests because the abnormal cells
might return to normal by themselves. However, they might ask you to go to
hospital for a closer examination, which is called a 'colposcopy'.
For more information about colposcopy, you can read our cancer screening
programme leaflet 'The
colposcopy examination'.
Treatment,
if it is needed, is a minor procedure and is usually done at an outpatient
clinic, which means you will not have to stay overnight.
Can cervical screening prevent cancer?
Regular cervical screening every three
to five years is the best way to detect changes in the cervix early. Early
detection and treatment can prevent cancer developing in around 80 to 90% of
cases.
What happens to my sample once it has been looked
at?
The laboratory
that looks at your sample will keep it for at least 10 years. They can then
compare your latest result with the ones you have had before. This is to make
sure that you get any treatment you might need. They may review all screening
records, including your sample, as part of our aim to offer a quality service
and to help increase the expertise of specialist staff.
If a
review shows that you should have been cared for differently, we will contact
you. We will offer you information about the review of your case if you want to
know it.
For more details about the records
we keep, you can contact NHS Direct on 0845 46 47.
SUMMARY
To help you
decide whether or not to come for cervical screening, the main benefits and
difficulties of cervical screening are explained below.
Cervical screening reduces the risk of
developing cervical cancer.
Due to cervical screening, cervical cancer is now an uncommon disease in this
country.
Cervical cancer rates have halved since
the 1980s, largely due to most women regularly having cervical screening.
Cervical screening by the NHS saves over 1000 lives each year.
In one in 10 tests, the cells cannot be
seen properly under the microscope and the test must be taken again.
The test can show minor abnormalities in cervical cells which would have
cleared up on their own and women would never have known about them if they had
not been for screening. It is not yet clear which minor abnormalities would
develop into cancer and which would not. Many women worry when a minor
abnormality is found.
Cervical screening does not pick up
every abnormality of the cervix.
Regular cervical screening can prevent about 80 to 90% of cervical
cancers developing, but it does not prevent every case.
Some women find having the test an unpleasant experience.
More
information and support
If you have any questions about the service:
Ask your doctor;
Contact your local health clinic;
Visit the NHS cancer-screening website at:
www.cancersscreening.nhs.nhs.uk ;
or
Visit
NHS Direct at www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk