Last winter, Sara Sumstad from Måløy got cervical cancer, aged just 26. – The word cancer is really scary, but I thought it was going to go well, and that I had to be a bit optimistic. But it’s hard to be ill and not know what will happen in the future, says Samsund. After experiencing bleeding and pain in the lower abdomen, she was asked to have a cervical smear. Two cervical tests and almost three months later, she was told that she had cancer in the cervix. Sumstad had to operate to remove parts of the cervical plug. This is an HPV test HPV test is, like the traditional cervical test, taken with a brush in the vagina. The difference is that the HPV test captures the HPV virus, while the traditional endometrial test finds abnormal cells. Therefore, this test can be more effective in detecting the precursors to the type of cancer. In addition, the sample can be analyzed by a machine, instead of a human. It reduces the response time According to the Norwegian Directorate of Health, the test will be able to reduce the number of cancer cases in the 25 to 33 age group by up to 44 cases each year. When the test is positive, you look at the same sample under the microscope. Source: Ameli Tropé in the cervix programme. There has been an increase in the number of cervical cancer among young people who have not been vaccinated. At the same time, the waiting time for a test answer can be long, and up to six or eight weeks in some places. Now an HPV test should make it easier to prevent cervical cancer and give a shorter response time. During the next year, women between the ages of 33 and 25 will be offered this test instead of a pap smear. The test is already offered to those over the age of 33. Can lead to overtreatment Doctor at the University Hospital of Northern Norway (UNN) Sveinung Sørbye believes that the disadvantage of the test is that it will lead to overtreatment. – One wants to discover more cases. This means that many people with pre-stage, who would perhaps have regressed on their own, are treated with conization. Conization is the removal of part of the cervix. Doctor Sørbye believes there are both positive and negative aspects to the screening programme. Photo: Aurora Berg / news The new HPV test will thus be able to detect more cases of HPV infection that will not develop into cancer, the doctor believes. He nevertheless underlines that the test will be able to prevent more cases of cancer than the cervical test. What is HPV? Infection with HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection in both women and men. It is estimated that over 70 per cent of sexually active people will get an HPV infection during their lifetime, and that approx. 10 percent of the population at any given time is infected. HPV infection occurs most frequently in the youngest, sexually active age groups. HPV types that infect the skin and mucous membranes in the anogenital region are mainly transmitted by intercourse, but can also be transmitted via intimate skin contact. HPV infections cause no symptoms and go away on their own, but a small proportion of those infected can develop persistent infection. In more than 90 percent of cases, HPV infection will go away by itself within 4–24 months, but approx. 10 per cent develop a persistent infection. He also thinks it is positive that it takes less time to analyze this type of sample. Basically, some weeks have a waiting period from or until small consequences, but for some women the waiting time can be a strain. – I understand that it is tiring to wait for clarification when the woman knows that there were abnormal findings in the previous test. – It is important that young people are tested Head of the cervical program Ameli Tropé says that they are working on how to follow up young women who have an HPV positive test. They want to find out who needs clarification and treatment, and who can wait. Ameli Tropé is head of the cervix programme. Photo: Truls Alnes Antonsen / news This is how they hope to be able to show women with HPV types who have the greatest likelihood of serious cell changes that can develop into cervical cancer. – It is important that young women are tested for the HPV virus, as HPV is the cause of cervical cancer. If the sample is HPV-positive, we look at the cells from the same sample under a microscope. She emphasizes that you must contact a doctor if you have new symptoms, such as heavy bleeding, bloody discharge or severe pain in the lower back. Urges to get tested Sumstad was vaccinated against the HPV virus and never thought she would get cervical cancer. – When the GP told me, I just said “oh yes, okay”. In a normal world, I would have thrown myself on the floor and been really upset, but I think I just got a bit of a shock. Now she is as good as healthy again, and is followed up with pap smears every five years. She hopes other girls take the time to test themselves. – You have to listen to your gut feeling and trust it. In a way, I wasn’t too late, but I could have discovered the cancer earlier if I had taken the time for a pap smear before.
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Younger women can get faster answers to whether they have cell changes – news Vestland
