If cervical cancer is suspected, you’ll be referred to a gynaecologist (a specialist in treating conditions of the female reproductive system).
Referral will be recommended if the results of your cervical screening test suggest that there are abnormalities in the cells of your cervix. However, in most cases, the abnormalities don’t mean you have cervical cancer.
You may also be referred to a gynaecologist if you have abnormal vaginal bleeding, or if your doctor has noticed a growth inside your cervix during an examination.
The sexually transmitted infection (STI) chlamydia is one of the most common reasons why women experience unusual vaginal bleeding. Your doctor may recommend that you’re tested for it first before being referred. Testing for chlamydia involves taking a small tissue sample from your cervix, or carrying out a urine test.
If you’ve had an abnormal cervical screening test result, or your symptoms suggest that you may have cervical cancer, your gynaecologist will usually carry out a colposcopy. This is an examination to look for abnormalities in your cervix.
During a colposcopy, a small microscope with a light source at the end (colposcope) is used. As well as examining your cervix, your gynaecologist may remove a small tissue sample (biopsy) so that it can be checked under a microscope for cancerous cells.
In some cases, a minor operation called a cone biopsy may also be carried out. The operation is carried out in hospital, usually under a local anaesthetic.
During a cone biopsy, a small, cone-shaped section of your cervix will be removed so that it can be examined under a microscope for cancerous cells. You may experience vaginal bleeding for up to four weeks after the procedure. You may also have period-like pains.
If the results of the biopsy suggest you have cervical cancer and there’s a risk that the cancer may have spread, you’ll probably need to have some further tests to assess how widespread the cancer is. These tests may include:
After all of the tests have been completed and your test results are known, it should be possible to tell you what stage cancer you have. Staging is a measurement of how far the cancer has spread. The higher the stage, the further the cancer has spread. The staging for cervical cancer is as follows:
Read More ON:
Cervical Cancer
Symptoms of Cervical Cancer
Causes of Cervical Cancer
Treating Cervical Cancer
Preventing Cervical Cancer
Fibroids
Diagnosing Fibroids
Treating Fibroids
Complications of Fibroids
Womb Cancer
Symptoms of Womb Cancer
Causes of Womb Cancer
Diagnosing Womb Cancer
Treating Womb Cancer
Vaginal Cancer
Causes of Vaginal Cancer
Diagnosing Vaginal Cancer
Treating Vaginal Cancer
Ovarian Cancer
Symptoms of Ovarian Cancer
Causes of Ovarian Cancer
Diagnosing Ovarian Cancer
Treating Ovarian Cancer
Preventing Ovarian Cancer
Dry Vagina
SOURCE: NHS UK
http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Cancer-of-the-cervix/Pages/Diagnosis.aspx