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A smear showing slight changes does NOT mean you have cancer. It simply means that your smear picked up some cells from your cervix that looked slightly abnormal. A smear that shows slight changes is sometimes referred to as an “abnormal smear” or “pre-cancerous changes”. Slight changes are sometimes also referred to as Borderline, or Mild.
Given time, (up to 20 years), these slightly abnormal cells MAY develop into cancer if they are not treated - but they are NOT cancer at this moment in time. Not every woman who has an abnormal smear is at risk of getting cancer - for some women, the changes go back to normal by themselves.
The aim of cervical screening is to prevent women getting cervical cancer. It is estimated that the cervical screening programme in the UK prevents over 1500 cases of cervical cancer each year. Screening prevents cervical cancer by early detection of abnormal cervical cells. When abnormal cells are found they can be monitored and, if necessary, steps can be taken to treat them, thus preventing their further development.
Although no screening test is 100% effective, the early detection of abnormal cell changes is the best way to prevent cervical cancer. This is why the most important thing that you can do to help prevent cervical cancer is to go along and have regular smear tests.
Every year, many women in the UK have a smear taken that shows slight changes in the cells of the cervix. All of these women need to have some follow-up. This can either be another smear in six months time or a colposcopy examination. Both methods are safe, but we do not know which of these follow-up methods is best.
TOMBOLA is investigating which is the best method of follow-up. In order for us to do this we need to investigate what is best for women (in terms of maximum health and well being needs), and for the National Health Service (in terms of resources available).
The results of TOMBOLA will help shape women’s health care in the future. We will look at all of the information from women who took part in TOMBOLA. This will tell us which follow-up method is the best, for both women and the NHS. The results of TOMBOLA will be published in medical journals. They will also be reported to the NHS and to people who work in the Cervical Screening Programs in the U.K. They will be able to use the results to make decisions about how woman who have a smear showing slight changes should be followed-up in the future.
Some initial results from TOMBOLA will be available from the end of 2004. The main results will be available in 2006 / 2007 - after the study has been completed and all women taking part have been invited for a final appointment at the TOMBOLA clinic. The results will be published in medical journals and on this website.
Please use the contact details on the page “TOMBOLA in your area”.
Staff at your GP practice or Family Planning Clinic should be able to provide you with more information about the screening programmes. If your GP does not have literature to hand they should be able to recommend where you can find this information.
In addition the Cervical Screening Programmes in England and Scotland have websites that describe their work:
In addition, the staff at your local TOMBOLA office should be able to answer any questions you have about the Cervical Screening Programme.
TOMBOLA
Department of Public Health · University of Aberdeen · School of Medicine · Polwarth Building · Aberdeen AB25 2ZD
Tel: 01224 559408 | tombola@abdn.ac.uk