What happens if my colposcopy results are positive?

You may need treatment if the results of your colposcopy show that there are abnormal cells in your cervix. The abnormal cells will be removed, which usually involves removing an area of the cervix about the size of a finger tip.

Can doctor see cervical cancer during colposcopy?

A colposcopy is used to find cancerous cells or abnormal cells that can become cancerous in the cervix, vagina, or vulva. These abnormal cells are sometimes called “precancerous tissue.” A colposcopy also looks for other health conditions, such as genital warts or noncancerous growths called polyps.

What if cervical biopsy is positive?

However, if you recently had a cervical biopsy, you may need repeated Pap and HPV testing sooner. A positive test, on the other hand, means that cancer or precancerous cells have been found and further diagnosis and treatment may be needed.

Does a colposcopy biopsy mean cancer?

Understanding your biopsy results

Or your biopsy may find abnormal cervical cells. This is known as an abnormal result. It's not cancer, but there is a risk the cells could turn into cancer in the future if not treated.

What happens if you test positive for cervical cancer?

If your Pap test or HPV test results are abnormal, your doctor will probably refer you to a gynecologist for a colposcopic exam. If test results show that you might have cancer, you may be referred to a doctor who specializes in treating cancers of the female genital tract (gynecologic oncologist) for treatment.

What To Expect With Colposcopy Results

Should I worry if my HPV test is positive?

A positive HPV test means you do have an HPV type that may be linked to cervical cancer. This does not mean you have cervical cancer now. But it could be a warning. The specific HPV type may be identified to determine the next step.

Will I live if I have cervical cancer?

When cervical cancer is diagnosed at an early stage, the 5-year relative survival rate is 92%. When cervical cancer is diagnosed after it has spread to nearby tissues, organs, or regional lymph nodes, the 5-year relative survival rate is 58%.

How often is cancer found during colposcopy?

If you have moderate or severe cell changes, you'll be referred for a colposcopy and you may need treatment. However, less than 1 in 1,000 women referred for a colposcopy are found to have invasive cervical cancer that requires immediate treatment.

Can you tell what stage cancer is from biopsy?

Doctors use diagnostic tests like biopsies and imaging exams to determine a cancer's grade and its stage. While grading and staging help doctors and patients understand how serious a cancer is and form a treatment plan, they measure two different aspects of the disease.

Does a biopsy reveal stage of cancer?

Doctors have two ways to stage cancer: Clinical Staging This type of staging is done based on the results of diagnostic exams, like a biopsy and imaging test.

How do you treat precancerous cervix cells?

Treatments for precancerous lesions include excision (surgical removal of the abnormal area, also referred to as a cone biopsy or conization, or loop electrosurgical excision procedure [LEEP]), cryosurgery (freezing), and laser (high-energy light).

What is the procedure to remove precancerous cells in the cervix?

Large loop excision of the transformation zone (LLETZ)

Also called loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP), this is the most common way of treating precancerous changes of the cervix. The abnormal tissue is removed using a thin wire loop that is heated electrically.

Should I get a hysterectomy if I have HPV?

Unfortunately, once you have been infected with HPV, there is no treatment that can cure it or eliminate the virus from your system. A hysterectomy removes the cervix, which means that the risk of developing cervical cancer because of persistent HPV infection will essentially be eliminated.

What happens if they find something during a colposcopy?

If the doctor or nurse finds abnormal cells in your cervix, they may recommend removing them. This will reduce your risk of cervical cancer. They may do this treatment on the same day as your colposcopy, or you might be asked to come back for another appointment.

What does early signs of cervical cancer look like?

Is cervical cancer treatable if caught early?

More than 14,000 Americans develop cervical cancer each year. However, cervical cancer is a treatable condition, and there is an excellent chance of cure if the cancer is found and treated in the early stages.

Do doctors tell you if they suspect cancer?

If you're deemed to be of sound mind, and you ask the question, then yes, they are legally obligated to disclose your medical data to you.

Would a doctor say you have cancer before biopsy results?

But for most cancer types, a cancer diagnosis isn't a diagnosis until a biopsy says it is — and everything that follows hinges on that biopsy. A biopsy is a procedure that collects a sample of tissue or cells from a suspicious area, mass or lymph node for examination and testing by a pathologist.

How many biopsies end up being cancer?

More than 1 million women have breast biopsies each year in the United States. About 20 percent of these biopsies yield a diagnosis of breast cancer. Open surgical biopsy removes suspicious tissue through a surgical incision.

How fast does cancer spread in cervix?

Cervical cancer develops very slowly. It can take years or even decades for the abnormal changes in the cervix to become invasive cancer cells. Cervical cancer might develop faster in people with weaker immune systems, but it will still likely take at least 5 years.

How fast spreading is cervical cancer?

Cervical cancer is a slow-growing malignancy. In fact, once cells in the cervix begin to undergo abnormal changes, it can take several years for the cells to grow into invasive cervical cancer.

How long does it take for cervical cancer to get serious?

The progression from becoming infected with HPV to developing CIN or CGIN and then developing cervical cancer is very slow, often taking 10 to 20 years.

Is cervical cancer a big deal?

Cervical cancer used to be one of the most common causes of cancer death for American women. Fortunately, because of the Pap test, rates of cervical cancer have dropped dramatically. During a Pap test, your doctor collects cervical cells for microscopic examination to find precancerous or cancerous cells.

Where does cervical cancer spread to first?

The most common places for cervical cancer to spread is to the lymph nodes, liver, lungs and bones.

What stage of cervical cancer is terminal?

Stage 4B is when the cancer has spread to organs further away, such as the lungs. Your doctor might call this secondary or metastatic cancer.