Cervical cancer screening
Cervical cancer has precursors that can be screened and treated before the actual cancer arises. In Finland, all women of 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55 and 60 years of age are invited for screening. In some municipalities screening is also provided for people aged 25 and 65. Screening invitations are sent to women at their homes.
Cervical cancer screening
1.
Invitation sent to your home – it’s possible to change the appointment time. The invitation cannot be sent to persons with a non-disclosure for personal safety. If this is the case, you should contact the screening implementer yourself.
2.
Go for the appointment A nurse will take a smear sample from the vagina, uterus and cervix. This may pinch a little and afterwards there may be some spotting.
During the appointment you will fill in a pre-information form, with questions about when your last period started, what contraception (or hormone replacement therapy) you use, and when you last had a Pap test, and what the result was.
3.
The sample is examined in a laboratory
It will be examined for cell changes (the traditional Pap test) or the Human Papillomavirus, HPV. If there is cancer-related HPV, the screening sample is checked for possible cervical cell changes (Pap test).
4.
You receive the results at home by post
4a.
normal result –you will receive the next invitation after 5 years
4b.
unclear result or showing mild cellular changes (classification ASC-US, LSIL under 30 years of age) or the HPV test is positive, but the Pap test shows at most mild cellular changes, you will receive another invitation after 1 –2 years.
4c.
an AGC-NOS result – you either have a colposcopy or new sample after 4-6 months.
4d.
If more pronounced cellular changes are found (ASC-H, HSIL and AGC-FN, LSIL in women aged 30 years or older or repeating ASC-US) – you will be invited for a colposcopy.
Colposcopy is an endoscopic examination of the vagina and cervix, which is done at a hospital outpatient clinic. With a colposcopy the cervix is treated with vinegar and a biopsy taken of differently coloured cellular abnormalities.
Even if you receive an invitation for a colposcopy, the reason is almost always to do with mild cellular changes that are not cancerous or even a cancer precursor.
5.
(only after 4c and 4d) If the biopsy shows cancer precursors, you will be invited for a medical procedure where the abnormal areas are removed.