Doctors recommend pap smear tests for anyone sexually active. While the schedule varies based on your age and the results of your last test, it’s important to keep up with the visits. It’s always a relief to hear that the results of a pap smear are normal but occasionally, the results show that there are some abnormal cells on the cervix. If that happens to you, don’t start worrying. It’s important to know what those results mean and how your doctor might proceed.
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As you may already know, a pap smear is a procedure where a doctor collects cells from the cervix so they can be examined under a microscope in a lab.
During this examination, the cells can either appear to be normal or abnormal. Simply finding abnormal cells, however, doesn’t automatically mean that you have cervical cancer. It just means that your doctor will need to do further tests to see what’s going on. These tests are determined by the type of abnormal cells that are found.
Typically, there are four kinds of abnormal cells: atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASCUS), squamous intraepithelial lesions, atypical glandular cells, and squamous cell cancer or adenocarcinoma cells.
The first type is a sign that the squamous cells that are found on the cervix’s surface appear abnormal.
In the second type, the cells appear to have been changed and this may indicate the presence of precancerous cells.
The third are cells are present on the cervix and the uterus so the issue may be more widespread. With the fourth type, your doctor will be more certain about the presence of cancer.
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If you have ASCUS, then your doctor will recommend testing the cells for the presence of HPV. A negative result indicates that nothing else needs to be done. A positive one will mean starting an appropriate monitoring program to ensure that the strain of HPV you have doesn’t put you at risk for cervical cancer. With the other types, the process is a little more involved.
To move forward, your doctor will need to know if the precancerous cells are low or high level. Low-level precancerous cells are less likely to become cancerous while high-level cells are the reason for more concern.
Doctors typically recommend doing a colposcopy and biopsy where your cervix is assessed under special conditions to determine which abnormal cells need to be collected for further analysis.
After the biopsy confirms the type of cells you’re dealing with, your doctor will have different options. Low-level cells don’t usually call for immediate action so don’t be surprised if you’re only asked to do more regular pap smears.
In some cases, your doctor may opt to remove the abnormal cells through a less invasive procedure such as cold therapy, which freezes them. With high-level cells, however, another procedure known as the Loop Electrosurgical Excision Procedure (LEEP) is used to remove the cervical tissue.
If the presence of cancer is confirmed, then your doctor is likely to move forward with treatment. The treatment options include chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and surgery to remove the affected tissue.
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With the first three types of abnormal cells, you can expect more follow-up doctor visits as well as more frequent pap smears. Your doctor may also recommend HPV tests as well. If you’re undergoing treatment for cervical cancer, then the monitoring will be more extensive. Tests to ensure that the treatment is working will also be a part of your overall health program.
Nobody wants to hear that their pap smear test results showed abnormal cells but it can happen. Fortunately, there is a well-respected way forward when dealing with these cells. It’s best to act quickly as well so you should never delay getting the tests or procedures that your doctor recommends. Regardless of what the final outcome is, it’s always better to start treatments quickly.
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