Definition
In order to determine whether a woman has cervical cancer, a biopsy of the cervix must be performed. Also known as a punch biopsy, a cervical cancer biopsy removes tissue from the cervix. This cervical cancer biopsy procedure assists physicians in determining whether cancerous cells are present and move forward with a treatment plan.
Preparation
Although most women report that a cervical cancer biopsy procedure is relatively pain free, a patient may want to take a form of pain medication shortly before the procedure. This will dull any discomfort caused by cramping that may occur due to the biopsy. The removal of cervical tissue may give the sensation of being pinched, but this pain is usually quite minimal, especially when pain medication has been taken prior to the biopsy. It is also recommended that women do not douche, have sex or insert anything into the vagina 24 to 48 hours before a cervical biopsy as they can interfere with the results of the test.
Procedure
In order to perform a cervical cancer biopsy procedure, a physician will have the woman lie on her back on an exam table with her feet up in the stirrups. A speculum is inserted into her vagina and opened, which widens the vaginal canal and allows her doctor to see her cervix. A colposcope is then inserted into the vagina. This is a microscope that allows the physician to magnify the cervix to more closely examine it. In order to see the area even more clearly, a cotton swab that has been dipped in a vinegar solution is used to remove mucous from the cervix. After these steps have been taken, the physician will use specialized forceps or a large needle to biopsy, or remove, a small sample of tissue from the cervix. The speculum is then removed from the vagina, completing the procedure, which normally does not take more than 15 minutes.
Results
The tissue that has been removed from the cervix during a biopsy is sent to a lab. At the lab, a doctor called a pathologist who has specialized in the study of disease will analyze the tissue to determine whether it is cancerous. The results are then to sent to the patient's physician, who will discuss them with the patient. A normal biopsy result means that no abnormal cervical cells were detected. An abnormal biopsy result means that abnormal cervical cells were found and cervical cancer is already present or likely to develop in the future due to precancerous cells.
Tags: cervical cancer, from cervix, biopsy procedure, cancer biopsy, cancer biopsy procedure