What are the differences between the various types of cervical cancer screening?
Cervical Cancer Screening
Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer in women, second only to breast cancer. It is a cancer with a relatively high mortality rate. Regular cervical cancer screening is therefore very important in order to screen for the stage of the disease, to access treatment promptly, and to reduce the mortality rate. It also helps to encourage women to see the importance of disease prevention, to observe abnormal symptoms that should be seen by a doctor, etc.
Methods of cervical cancer screening
1. PAP SMEAR is a method of screening for cervical cancer. The doctor uses a device that looks like an ice cream stick to scrape the cervix to collect cells. The cells are placed on a slide and sent to the laboratory for examination. The waiting period for the results is about 5-7 days. If the results are normal, a follow-up examination should be done every year. If the results show abnormal cells, the doctor will schedule an additional diagnostic examination using a colposcope to examine the cervix.
2. Thin Prep test is a method of testing for cervical cancer in which a doctor uses a device that looks like a small brush to collect cells from the cervix. This method uses a device that collects cells in a finer quantity and cultures them in a solution using a special technique. It is more accurate than the PAP SMEAR test. The waiting period for test results is approximately 10 days.
3. HPV DNA test This method uses the same cell collection method as the Thin Prep test. Most of the time, the test is done in pairs as Thin Prep + HPV DNA. The advantage of the HPV DNA test is that it allows us to know about HPV infection, the virus that causes cervical cancer, and other viruses that cause genital warts. It is a popular method today. It helps us to know which strain of HPV we have before it develops into cervical cancer. It increases access to the cervical cancer vaccine and allows for faster treatment, reducing severity and mortality.
Preparation before undergoing cervical cancer screening
- Avoid cervical cancer screening 1 week before or after menstruation to reduce the error rate of interpretation during hormonal fluctuations.
- Avoid having sexual intercourse 1 day before the examination to prevent inflammation of the cervix.
- Refrain from vaginal douching and use an antiseptic for 2 days.
- Wash and clean the genital area before the examination. Urinate properly.
Regular cervical cancer screening should be performed to screen for the virus and cervical cancer cells, which helps to receive prompt treatment and reduce the severity of the disease.
Reference :
Thonburi Rajyindee Hospital How do the different types of cervical cancer screenings differ?
ArokaGO Providers Thonburi Rajyindee Hospital
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