Cancer of the cervix: A realistic program of cancer control for teh general practitioner

Abstract

Prevention rather than early diagnosis should be the primary goal of the general practitioner in any program of cancer control. Office electrocauterization of all chronically infected cervices is an excellent prophylaxis against carcinoma of the cervix. All cases of cauterized cervical erosions which do not heal properly should be considered carcinomatous until proved otherwise. Patients with these unhealed cervical erosions should then be referred to a Diagnostic Cancer Clinic or gynecologist for further tests and study. At that time, a cervical biopsy should be done with the Schiller test to point out areas most suitable for biopsy. The Papanicolaou vaginal smear should be used to complement the cervical biopsy but never to replace it since the expected 10 per cent false negative vaginal smear does not reliably indicate that no cancer is present. Although a positive Papanicolaou vaginal smear suggests that cancer is present, the final diagnosis is dependent on the microscopic examination of the cervical biopsy.