Getting checked for cervical cancer

Cervical screening helps to stop cervical cancer developing – long before you would notice any symptoms. As well as attending cervical screening appointments, it’s important to be aware of any unusual changes to your body.

In Scotland, anyone aged 25 to 64 with a cervix is invited for a cervical screening (smear) test – even if they’ve had the HPV (human papillomavirus) vaccine. It only takes 5 minutes, and it’s the best thing you can do to stop cervical cancer before it starts.

The test checks the cells from your cervix for HPV – the main cause of cervical cancer. If HPV is found, your sample is then checked for cell changes. It is the most effective and accurate way of finding out if you’re more likely to develop cervical cancer, so you only need to attend every five years.

Even if you expect everything’s fine, the test can detect any cell changes early on. And the earlier cervical cancer is found, the easier it is to treat. In fact, you’re nine times more likely to survive cervical cancer when it’s found at an early stage, compared to a later stage.

If you’re worried about a change to your body that’s unusual and isn’t going away, contact your GP practice for an appointment. Your doctor or nurse might ask about:

• Medical history: they may ask about your medical history to try and understand what may be causing the symptoms. They may also ask about your last cervical screening result.
• Sexual history: they may ask about the possibility of you having a sexually transmitted infection (STI), which may be causing the symptoms. They may also ask if you are using any contraception.
• Pregnancy: they may ask about the possibility of you being pregnant and ask you to take a pregnancy test.

Once they know more about your individual situation, they will decide on the next steps.

Many other conditions share cervical cancer symptoms, so it’s probably nothing to worry about. But you should still contact your GP. Whatever it is, the earlier it’s found, the easier it will be to treat. And if it’s nothing serious, it will take a weight off your mind.

If the doctor suspects you have cervical cancer, they will refer you to a gynaecologist (a specialist in the female reproductive system). The gynaecologist might do further tests by inserting a small microscope into your cervix or taking a sample of the tissue to run tests on.

These tests can help to build a better picture of your symptoms and can rule out (or confirm) the presence of cancer. If cancer is found, the doctor can decide on the best course of treatment.

If it is cancer, finding it early gives you more treatment options, and a better chance of treatment being successful and of living well after cancer.

Many people put off getting symptoms checked as they’re worried they’ll be wasting the doctor’s or nurse’s time – or they’re worried about what they might find out.

If you have symptoms, your GP wants to know. If it isn’t serious, the doctor or nurse can put your mind at ease. And if it is something more, finding out earlier means it’s more likely that treatments will be successful.

If you’re worried, here are a few things you can do to feel a little calmer on the day:

• If you feel comfortable wearing a skirt or dress, it may help you feel more covered. You can keep it on during the test and only take off your underwear.
• Ask for a nurse or doctor of a particular gender. You may feel more comfortable knowing that a female or male nurse will be doing your cervical screening.
• Speculums come in different sizes. If you find the standard size too uncomfortable, you can ask to try another size.
• Lying on your back may feel uncomfortable for lots of reasons. You can ask to lie on your left-hand side with your knees bent.
• If you have gone through or are going through the menopause, it can sometimes make the test more uncomfortable. You can ask your nurse or doctor to prescribe you a vaginal oestrogen cream or pessary, which may help.

And always remember, the nurse or doctor are there to help. So ask any questions you want and take it as slow as you like.

If initial tests show you have cervical cancer, the doctor will want to find out how early a stage the cancer is at. They may do a pelvic examination, blood tests and a CT scan. These will help the doctor to choose the best course of treatment for you.