Have you gone for your cervical screening lately?  

If you haven’t, it’s time to make that appointment. 

Doctors recommend 25 years old or older to get a check-up to detect any chance of having cervical cancer.  

In not doing so, you’re at risk of it spreading further.  

The screening is crucial to decide if you need to undergo a procedure to prevent it. If needed, your doctor would most likely suggest the LEETZ Procedure. 

Read and learn what cervical cancer is and why professionals choose the LEETZ Procedure.  

What is Cervical Cancer?  

Cervical cancer is a cancer that starts in the cells of the cervix lining, which grows and becomes abnormal. (The cervix is an opening between the vagina and the uterus).  

Before the cells become abnormal and cancer appears, they go through a change known as dysplasia. 

This means that the cells begin to appear in the cervical tissue, and if they are not removed, they become cancerous cells and can spread more deeply.  

Causes 

A few factors cause cervical cancer, but the leading cause is HPV.  

• HPV (Human Papillomavirus): a widespread sexually transmitted infection that doesn’t show any symptoms and can go away by itself or create serious illnesses. 
• A weakened Immune system: when the body has a weak ability to fight off HPV or other infections, it is more likely to lose the fight with HPV.   
• Smoking/Secondhand smoke: there is an increased risk of developing cervical cancer.  
• Becoming sexually active at a young age: the high-risk of having HPV is higher in people who become sexually active before the age of 18 and have had multiple sexual partners.  
• Some oral contraceptives or drugs have been associated with Cervical Cancer but have not been well understood why.  

Risks 

The risks that cervical cancer can cause you can be detrimental. 

Unfortunately, it can affect your fertility or pregnancy if you have a hysterectomy or radiotherapy.  

When radiotherapy for cervical cancer begins, it affects the ovaries and stops them from producing eggs and pregnancy hormones.  

If Radical Trachelectomy is performed, you may be able to get pregnant but under a fertility specialist centre’s care. Your doctor will discuss the risks of having mid-trimester miscarriages after having the trachelectomy. Also, a C-section will also be needed to deliver your baby.  

Screenings 

Women aged 25 years old and over are recommended to receive cervical screenings every 3 to 5 years.  

• HPV Test helps to check for infected cells that have a high risk for HPV  
• A Pap smear test collects cervical cells to be checked for any changes that HPV might have caused. There are three results:
  1. Normal Pap test results mean that no abnormal cervical cells were found.  
  2. Unsatisfactory Pap test results can mean that the lab sample needed more cells or that the cells might have been clumped together or hidden. Your doctor will suggest that you go back in 2 to 4 months.  
  3. Abnormal Pap test results are positive test results that some of the cervix cells look different from the normal cells. It does not automatically mean that you have cancer, but your healthcare provider will recommend that you do more testing. 
• Colposcopy: This screening usually occurs when your doctor needs to see the inside of your cervix. This helps them to show abnormal areas.  
• Cervical Biopsy: This procedure removes cervical cells or tissue to be checked under a microscope.  

Note: Always discuss with your health provider the best step to take.  

Treatments – LLETZ (Large Loop Excision of the Transformation Zone)

If diagnosed with high-grade precancerous cervical cells, multiple procedures can help prevent the affected cells from becoming cancer and spreading by removing them.  

Here we will focus on the most common procedure doctors refer to for their patients. This procedure is called LEETZ, which stands for Large Loop Excision of the Transformation Zone.  

It typically only takes 10 to 15 minutes. Sometimes it can be performed after your screening appointment if they’ve officially detected high-grade precancerous cervical cells. 

Pain

Pain will always vary, depending on the patient.  

Since the healthcare providers use local anaesthetics, there is typically only slight discomfort during the procedure. After, the slight pain can subside after using regular painkillers.  

Note: If regular vaginal examinations are very uncomfortable (including colposcopy), the procedure should be done under general anaesthetic.  

After-care 

It’s completely normal for symptoms such as brown vaginal discharge or blood spots to occur, as well as the patient receiving their period early or having a heavy flow. To further monitor your vaginal health and address any concerns that may arise, you might consider using an aerobic vaginitis at-home test. This can help detect potential issues and ensure appropriate care is taken.

Healthcare providers advise patients to avoid certain activities for the next four weeks, such as

• Wearing any tampons or menstrual cups. 
• Have any penetrative vaginal sex for the four weeks  
• Have any heavy exercise, such as swimming, for about two weeks.  

After six months of the procedure, the doctors ask for an update from the patient by appointing a screening to ensure no abnormal cells, infections or HPV.

Even though being diagnosed with high-grade precancerous cervical cells sounds frightening, there’s no need to be because treatments such as the LLETZ help to treat and prevent any further complications.  

This is why going to the recommended screenings is recommended. It is healthy for you mentally and to be in check with your body.   

Make an appointment with your local healthcare provider if you have any concerns.