How is cervix cancer diagnsis

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s1221rwal
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Joined: Mon Mar 11, 2013 1:09 pm
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by s1221rwal on Mon Mar 11, 2013 3:29 pm

How is cervix cancer diagnsis

Hi advise wanted. Had routine smear, told to go for colpscopy ashad abnormal glandular cells, at colposcopy had 3 biopsy and pictures. Called back to see consultant within 7days who told me he suspected I had early stages cervix cancer which is treatable with cone biopsy or radical hysterectomy but as I was going on holiday
within the next 3 days he postponed treatment and said he will do a loop excision whilst I was there and send this off. Whilst on holiday I had a light bleed for ten days and back pain which I feel was caused by the loop excision as I had a great pad and electrical equipment.
I am confused as I returned from holiday to find 2 letters stating the loop excision biopsy was inconclusive and another saying consultant has booked me in for lletz under general as he wants to do a larger biopsy as results are inconclusive.
I wanted to know how exactly is cervix cancer diagnosised as i am surprised I have any cervix left with all the biopsies taken. Also why did the routine smear show abnormal glandular

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Professor Sean Kehoe
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Joined: Mon Mar 04, 2013 1:11 pm
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by Professor Sean Kehoe on Tue Mar 12, 2013 11:29 am

Re: How is cervix cancer diagnsis

sometimes the cells on the tissue samples can be difficult to interpret or there is 'burn' effect from the loop, and I suspect that the next loop is to try and clarify matters. I agree that the pain/bleeding you had on holidays were most likely due to the Loop.
Smears were really used to pick up the 'non- glandular' abnormalities but with time and experience they do occasionally pick up glandular problems.
I would strongly recommened you have the loop as planned

Cervical cancer can be diagnosied in a few ways - but the confirmation is by tissue biopsy. In very early cancers [which may be only a few millimetres in size] the diagnosis is often after a loop whereby nobody had a suspicion of cancer. Other cases there may be a visible abnormality and a tissue biopsy is used to confirm if that is a cancer or not.
Professor Sean Kehoe
MA MD DCH FRCOG

s1221rwal
Posts: 2
Joined: Mon Mar 11, 2013 1:09 pm
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by s1221rwal on Tue Mar 12, 2013 3:20 pm

Re: How is cervix cancer diagnsis

Many thanks for your reply.
I guess it is better to have the lletz under general.
My own feeling is that the tiny growth was disturbed at smear as I have been celibate for many years . This was the first time I bled for several days after a routine smear. The consultant said there was a small growth and the picture taken at colposcopy wasn't clear so he suspected hence he did the loop procedures, he was asking if I had any previous surgery but I had not.
Your reply made sense as it is still at diagnostic stage.

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