Are they suspecting cancer?

[Ilovepugs2017]

Does having a cervical biopsy done at a colposcopy mean that they are suspecting cancer?

Much more likely pre-cancerous cells which are not cancer but would lead to it. They would take a biopsy to determine the level /grade 1-3 and that helps them know how much to laser away. Sounds scary but a very routine procedure

I was thinking how the cancer pathways actually delay diagnosis. Of true problems, I mean. Obviously someone has figured out this is a good balance of risks and benefits. And some people don't technically have a problem they perceive. But anyway...

I'm not sure there ever is "we suspect cancer". Rather, there is "If this means cancer then we need to know asap. Only after we know it's not cancer (like 90% of other times we tested) will we start to figure out what the real situation or problem is." Genital warts, benign polyps, other things...

I was thinking how the cancer pathways actually delay diagnosis. Of true problems, I mean. Obviously someone has figured out this is a good balance of risks and benefits. And some people don't technically have a problem they perceive. But anyway...

Interesting. What makes you think that?

Ok thank you. They didn’t specify why they were taking a biopsy sample. I’d gone for colposcopy because I had 3 hpv positive smears but no abnormal cells then obviously they seen something at the colposcopy which they biopsied

I would try not to worry. The fact that you are on top of your smears is a really really good thing. I had a cone biopsy which told them I had CIN-3 which they then lasered off

No. Taking a biopsy of abnormal pre-cancerous cells is often used to grade them. The vast majority of abnormal cells will never become cancer, but because they all have the same potential to then you'll be offered treatment if the grading is high (CIN2 or CIN3).

Ok thank you this eases my worries a bit

Ok thank you. No cell changes have been picked up on my smears at all. It was only when I went for the colposcopy they noticed something