Question

She reports that the discharge started several weeks ago, and she has also had some vaginal bleeding, but usually only after intercourse. She denies multiple partners at this time although she has had “several” in her past. She was treated for vaginal warts 5 or 6 years ago but has not had any problems since then. Her last Pap smear was about 3 years ago, and they wanted to repeat it in 6 months, but she never got around to going back.

2. What does the nurse suspect at this point and why?

3. In addition to the history of HPV, what are some other risk factors associated with cervical cancer?

4. How will a diagnosis of cervical cancer be confirmed?

Answer 1

2) The nurse suspects Cervical cancer because the woman had vaginal bleeding after sexual intercourse.

Also because, the woman had many risk factors for development of cervical cancer like -

• Multiple sex partners in the past
• History of vaginal warts (vaginal warts are caused by human papilloma virus - HPV, which is a risk factor for cervical cancer.
• History of previous suspicious pap smear ( pap smear is a screening test for cervical cancer)

3) The risk factors for cervical cancer are:

• Human papilloma virus infection - HPV 16 & 18

• multiple sexual partners

• a partner with many sexual partners

• early age at first intercourse

• smoking

• immunodeficiency (weak immune system)

• oral contraceptives (birth control pills)

4) Thr diagnosis of cervical cancer is confirmed by a cervical biopsy. The biopsy specimen consists of tissue from the cervix which is examined for the presence of cancerous cells.

NB : The Pap test is a screening test for cervical cancer, not a diagnostic test. Here the superficial cells from the cervix are taken and examined for the presence of cancerous cells.