Cervical cancer
Diagnosis and tests
Diagnosing cervical cancer
Your family doctor (GP) will talk to you about your symptoms and / or your cervical screening test results. They may do some tests. For example:
An instrument called a speculum is gently put into your vagina (like when you have a cervical screening test) so that the doctor can look at your cervix.
The doctor puts a gloved finger into your back passage or vagina. This because the cervix is close to the bowel and womb, so there may be changes to these parts of the body if you have cervical cancer.
Your GP will refer you to hospital if they think you need more tests. Other tests you might have include:
Using a bright light and a colposcope to look at your cervix. A colposcope is a large magnifying glass or binoculars that helps the doctor to look more closely at the surface of your cervix. This test is done in hospital.
Read more about having a colposcopy.
In this test your doctor can closely examine your cervix and pelvic organs while you are asleep under general anaesthetic. Your doctor can check the size of your womb and if the cancer is found only in your cervix. This test is not always done.
A sample of the cells is taken and looked at under a microscope in the lab to see if there are any cancer cells. The biopsy can be done during a colposcopy or as part of the EUA.
A gynaecologist is a doctor who specialises in treating problems with the female reproductive system, for example, the vagina, vulva, womb (uterus) and ovaries.
If you are diagnosed with cervical cancer we're here for you. Our cancer nurses are here if you need information or just want to talk. They can help you to understand your diagnosis, what to expect, send you information and tell you about our services.
Further tests for cervical cancer
You may have more tests after your diagnosis to find out:
- How large is the cancer?
- Where exactly is the cancer?
- Has the cancer spread to any other parts of your body?
These can check your general health. For example, a blood count and tests to see how well your kidneys and liver are working.
A scan that uses magnetic energy to build up a picture of the tissues inside your body.
Read more about MRI scans.
A scan that gives a more detailed picture of the tissues inside the body. You will have a radioactive injection that will show up any cancer spread to other parts of your body on a CT scan picture.
Read more about PET-CT scans.
Sometimes your doctor will do this test to look at your cervix and vagina while you are asleep under general anaesthetic. This is done to see if the cancer is found only in your cervix. Samples of cervical cells (biopsy) can be taken during an EUA.
The tests you have can help to:
- Stage your cancer. This means finding out the size and postion of the cancer.
- Grade your cancer. Grading describes how quickly the cancer may grow and spread and how it might respond to treatment.
Some tests may be used see how you are responding to treatment.
Waiting for test results
While some results may come back quickly, others may take a few weeks. Waiting for results can be an anxious time. It may help to talk things over with your doctor or nurse or with a relative or close friend. You can also call our Support Line on 1800 200 700 or visit a Daffodil Centre to speak to a cancer nurse.
What are the stages of cervical cancer?
Staging means finding out how big the cancer is and if it has spread to other parts of your body. Staging will help your doctor to plan the best treatment for you.
The most common system used by doctors to stage cervical cancer is called the FIGO system. With the FIGO system, the stages of cervical cancer are numbered I (1) to IV (4). Each number stage is further divided using the letters A, B and C. The higher the letter and number within each stage, the more advanced the disease. In general, the lower the number, the less the cancer has spread. Your doctor will explain what exactly your stage means
Number staging
Your doctor often uses the FIGO information to give your cancer a number stage – from 1 to 4. A higher number means a more advanced cancer.
The cancer cells are on the surface of the cervix and have not invaded the deep tissue of the cervix.
Stage 1A: The cancer growth is very small (up to 5mm).
Stage 1B: The cancer has grown into the tissues of the cervix but has not spread beyond.
The cancer has started to spread beyond the neck of the uterus to nearby tissues.
Stage 2A: The cancer is in the upper part of the vagina but has not spread up into the uterus
Stage 2B: Cancer cells have spread into the tissue at the side of the cervix, but have not grown into the wall of the pelvis.
The cancer has spread further away from the cervix. It has moved into the lower part of the vagina and to the side wall of the pelvis.
Stage 3A: The cancer has spread to the lower third of the vagina, but not the pelvic wall.
Stage 3B: The cancer has spread to the pelvic wall.
Stage 3C: The cancer has spread to the pelvic and abdominal lymph nodes.
Cancer cells have spread to other body organs (metastasis).
Stage 4A: The cancer has spread to nearby organs, such as the bladder or back passage (rectum).
Stage 4B: The cancer has spread to distant organs, such as the lungs.
Knowing the stage and grade of your cancer helps your team to plan the best treatment for you.
What are the grades of cervical cancer?
Grading describes the cancer cells – what they look like and how they might grow.
The cancer cells look only slightly abnormal, much like normal cervical cells. The cancer is usually slow growing and less likely to spread than high-grade cervical cancer.
The cancer cells look less like normal cells. The cancer is more likely to spread than low-grade cervical cancer.
The cancer cells look fairly or very abnormal and are more likely to grow quickly. Read more about types of cervical cancer.
Staging and grading can be hard to understand, so ask your doctor and nurse for more information if you need it.
Continue reading about cervical cancer
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