I've been asked to go back for a “test of cure” 6 months after my treatment for an abnormal smear; Does this mean that I have cervix cancer?

[DrTracieMiles]

Today marks the beginning of Cervical Screening Awareness Week – so we thought we’d kick it off with a blog post about smear tests answering the question...

I've been asked to go back for a “test of cure” 6 months after my treatment for an abnormal smear; Does this mean that I have cervix cancer?

No; this test is not about cancer. It is a test to see if your cervix treatment in the colposcopy clinic has cured the abnormalities seen in your past smear. If the “test of cure” is normal, it means that your cervix is now back to normal, showing no more abnormal signs, and you do not need any additional tests.

There are a variety of different causes for an abnormal smear. Only a small minority are related to cancer. Some are related to the human papilloma (HPV) virus and others are due to changes in skin biology. Treatment in the colposcopy clinic often removes these changes. A single colposcopy treatment can return the cervix to normal in over 80% of cases. The test of cure is designed to test the treatment has cleared the changes on the skin on your cervix and see if it is free of the important HPV viruses. You will know your cervix is healthy and you will not need any other treatment of additional smears if the test is normal.

To find out more information, please contact our Ask Eve service on 0808 802 0019 - which is free to call from landlines and mobile phones within the UK and does not appear on itemised bills - or get in touch via email [e-mail].