Cervical cancer, when diagnosed in its early stage, is entirely curable. Periodic health screening has identified precancer symptoms in millions of women and helped save their lives. HPV infection, immune system deficiencies, herpes are risk factors for cervical cancer. You should undergo diagnostic tests to assess risk and screen yourself periodically to rule out and prevent cervical cancer.

1. Medical history and pelvic examination
A doctor will talk to you, understand your medical history, check for all vital information, and assess your risk for cervical cancer. As a first step, your doctor would do a physical examination and check for any unusual growth or tumors in the cervix, vagina, ovaries, and fallopian tubes.

2. Pap test
Doctors collect mucus from the cervix and surrounding tissues and examine it in a lab to look for precancer cells. If undiagnosed or left untreated, this could lead to cervical cancer. Women between 21 and 65 and above can get a pap test done, and it can be repeated every three years.

3. HPV test
This test was recently approved as a screening test for cervical cancer. An HPV test looks for the human papillomavirus contracted through sexual activity with an infected person. People who have been infected are at high risk for cervical cancer.

4. Colposcopy
Doctors are likely to recommend a colposcopy if they find any abnormalities during a pelvic exam or the pap smear test. Colposcope is a microscope with which doctors can get a magnified view of the cervix to identify any precancer cells or other abnormal tissues in the cervix and adjoining parts. It is a simple and quick test and can be completed within five to 10 minutes only.

5. Biopsies
If any of the above tests indicate abnormalities, doctors will remove a small part of the tissue and examine it to confirm or rule out cancer. The two biopsy procedures used for cervical cancer are

• Cone biopsy
  A conical-shaped small tissue is removed from the cervix by a Loop Electrosurgical Excision Procedure (LEEP) procedure and sent to the lab for examination.
• Sentinel lymph node biopsy
  This biopsy is done to see if cancer has spread from the cervix to nearby lymph nodes. A couple of lymph nodes are removed and examined for cancerous growth.

6. Imaging tests
Imaging tests are crucial diagnostic tools for all types of cancers as they can pinpoint the location and size of the tumor with accuracy. In the case of cervical cancer, a Computerized Tomography Scan (CT Scan) or a Positron Emission Tomography scan (PET scan) of the abdomen and pelvis will be done to locate the tumor and check if cancer has spread to lymph nodes. CT and PET scans are also used in later stages to see if cancer has spread to other organs like the lungs and liver. Magnetic Resonance Imaging or MRI is recommended to see if cancer has affected nearby tissues and organs like the bladder and rectum. An MRI could be recommended, along with a CT scan.