Diagnosis of Cervical Cancer

Diagnosis of Cervical Cancer—What Is It?

The number of new cases of cervical cancer in Portugal exceeds 900 cases per year, making it the second most common malignant tumor in women and one of the leading causes of death (300 women per year) in developed countries.

The Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is the primary cause, as it is present in 99.7% of cases. A woman infected with the virus has a 300-fold higher risk of developing cervical cancer as a result of genital infection.

Cervical cancer is, therefore, a rare complication of a common infection. However, it is also one of the most preventable forms of cancer in humans.

How can it be prevented?

There are three ways to prevent a diagnosis of cervical cancer:

1. HPV vaccination

The HPV vaccine is the most effective method of preventing this disease. Under the National Immunization Plan, it should preferably be administered to girls aged 10 and older, up to the day before their 18th birthday, and/or before they become sexually active, as this is the stage when most infections with the virus occur.

However, it is important to note the following points about the vaccine:

• The vaccine is preventive only and cannot treat the infection;
• The vaccine provides effective protection against the HPV types included in the vaccine. 
• There are two types of HPV vaccines—bivalent (serotypes 16 and 18) and nonavalent (HPV 6, 11, 16, 18, 31, 33, 45, 52, and 58)—which protect us from the most serious strains of the disease, but not all of them.

2nd - Screening Tests

A Pap smear, also known as a cervical cytology test, is one of the main methods for screening for the presence of abnormal cells in the cervix. It should be performed every 3 years, starting at age 25 and continuing until age 65.

If you experience any of the following symptoms, we recommend that you see your gynecologist: itching; discharge; abnormal bleeding (outside of your menstrual period); pain during sexual intercourse.

3rd - Assessing Behaviors

Often, a diagnosis of cervical cancer is linked to past behaviors. It is important to learn about sexually transmitted infections, their signs and symptoms, as well as how they are transmitted and their consequences.

You should take preventive measures, such as using condoms with casual partners and performing regular self-exams of your genital area.

In addition, you should avoid behaviors that increase the risk of HPV infection, such as smoking or having multiple sexual partners.

How is cervical cancer diagnosed?

Cervical cancer is diagnosed through routine screenings. The Pap test does not directly detect the presence of the virus, but it allows us to identify the changes the virus causes in cells.

If cervical cancer is suspected, your doctor should refer you for more specific tests for initial screening or to confirm the diagnosis. There are, however, several criteria that guide the choice of tests:

Hybrid Capture Test

This is a screening test that detects HPV infections. It is typically ordered in conjunction with a Pap smear for women over the age of 30.

Genotyping test

This test should be performed in cases of persistent infections (and/or co-infections). It has greater specificity than the hybrid capture test, as it allows for different therapeutic approaches and the identification of high-risk genotypes, such as HPV 16 and 18, which account for about 70% of the serotypes associated with a diagnosis of cervical cancer.
 

Where can you get tested for cervical cancer?

If HPV infection is suspected or if cervical cancer has already been diagnosed, it is important to visit a specialized clinic to undergo the necessary tests.

At Germano de Sousa, we have more than 550 collection points throughout the country. This ensures that everyone has easy access to our diagnostic services.

Visit the “Collection Points” page for more information.