Many women at high risk and those with an abnormal Pap smear may avoid cervical cancer with medical management from an experienced gynecologic oncologist. The pre-invasive program within the Gynecologic Cancer Unit is designed to intervene before your abnormal cervical cells become malignant.
Candidates for the pre-invasive cancer program are women who have:
- multiple risk factors
- the human Papilloma virus (HPV)
- dysplasia (an abnormal Pap smear that is not cancerous)
- a history of multiple abnormal Pap tests
- a very early invasive cancer that can potentially be managed conservatively without radical surgery
Using advanced diagnostics, the expert team at UCSD can identify abnormal cervical cells in their pre-invasive state, allowing for early intervention through a number of treatment options. Often, there’s not just a single treatment strategy but multiple strategies that benefit the patient.
Treatment options for pre-cancerous lesions may include:
- LEEP (Loop Electrosurgical Excision Procedure), using a thin wire loop heated by electrical current to remove abnormal tissue
- Cryotherapy, freezing abnormal cells
- Laser Therapy, using a focused beam of high-energy light to vaporize abnormal tissue
Learn More About Cervical Cancer
Request a Consultation with a UCSD Gynecologic Oncology Specialist Using our Online Form
Call our New Patient Office at (858) 822-6100, or toll-free (866) 773-2703