Do precancerous cervical cells always become cancer?
The first thing to make clear is that not all precancerous cells turn into cancer. In fact, most do not. But these are abnormal cells, somewhere between normal cells and cancer cells. Many people have heard of precancerous cells of the uterine cervix that are found during Pap smears.
How common are precancerous cells in cervix?
In fact, many women are told that they have precancerous cervical cells. “There are a million abnormal Pap smears each year,” King said. “Of those, 100,000 have serious precancer changes. And there are only 10,000 new cases of cervical cancer a year.
What does it mean to have precancerous cells on your cervix?
Precancerous conditions of the cervix are changes to cervical cells that make them more likely to develop into cancer. These conditions are not yet cancer. But if they aren’t treated, there is a chance that these abnormal changes may become cervical cancer.
How is cervical precancer treated?
Treatments for precancerous lesions include excision (surgical removal of the abnormal area, also referred to as a cone biopsy or conization, or loop electrosurgical excision procedure [LEEP]), cryosurgery (freezing), and laser (high-energy light).
How do they remove precancerous cells from the cervix?
Doctors remove a cone-shaped piece of tissue from the cervix in a procedure called conization. They may use conization to remove precancerous tissue high up in the cervical canal, along with a border of surrounding healthy tissue, to help ensure that all of the precancerous cells have been taken out.
Should you have a hysterectomy if you have precancerous cells?
Hysterectomy may be the best treatment only if it’s invasive cancer of the cervix. When the lining of the uterus grows too much, it can cause a precancerous change. This change causes irregular and/or too much bleeding. It can usually be treated with hormones.