(^500) Medical-Surgical Nursing Demystified
Cervical Cancer
The Papanicolaou (Pap) smear has markedly increased early detection of cervical
cancer and thus decreased the mortality.WHAT WENT WRONG?
Abnormal cells, cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN), are the initial indication
on a Pap smear, and are more common in women with HIV and those infected
with human papillomavirus (HPV), subtypes 16, 18. HPV is more common in
women with multiple sexual partners, those having sex at an early age, and those
with HIV.PROGNOSIS
Prognosis is dependent upon the stage at which the cancer is discovered. The five-
year survival rate ranges from 60 to 80 percent.HALLMARK SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
- Vaginal bleeding due to abnormal cells and ulceration of the cervix
- Postcoital bleeding
- Pelvic pain
INTERPRETING TEST RESULTS
- Pap smear.
- Biopsy to confirm disease and determine staging.
- Cone biopsy which provides a sample of tissue of the lateral margins of the
cervix.
TREATMENT
- Cone biopsy may remove enough of the dysplasia.
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