What tests do I need right after being diagnosed with Cervical Cancer

Tests After a Cervical Cancer Diagnosis

When you're first diagnosed with cervical cancer, your care team will order several important tests to understand your specific situation and plan your treatment. Here's what to expect:

Tissue Diagnosis & Pathology

Your diagnosis likely started with a cervical biopsy (a small tissue sample removed from the cervix). After diagnosis, your pathology report should include detailed information about:

• Tumor type: Whether it's squamous cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma, or adenosquamous carcinoma (mixed type)
• Tumor size and depth: How deep the cancer has invaded into the cervix
• Lymph node involvement: Whether cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes
• Surgical margins (if applicable): Whether all the cancer was removed with clear edges

According to NCCN Guidelines for Cervical Cancer, pathology reports should also assess HPV status (human papillomavirus testing), especially for adenocarcinomas, since HPV-related cancers may respond differently to treatment.

Blood Tests

Your doctor will order routine blood work to assess your overall health before treatment:

• Complete Blood Count (CBC): Checks red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets
• Kidney function tests: Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine levels—important because some chemotherapy drugs (like cisplatin) can affect kidneys
• Liver function tests: Ensure your liver can handle treatment

Imaging Tests

Imaging helps determine how far the cancer has spread. NCCN Guidelines recommend:

• CT scan (Computed Tomography): Usually of your chest, abdomen, and pelvis. This creates detailed 3D images to check for cancer spread
• MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging): Provides detailed images of the pelvis and can help with staging
• PET/CT scan (Positron Emission Tomography): May be used to detect if cancer has spread to distant areas

The specific imaging depends on your cancer stage and your doctor's assessment.

Additional Procedures (If Needed)

Depending on your situation, your doctor may recommend:

• Cystoscopy: A thin camera inserted through the urethra to check if cancer has invaded the bladder
• Proctoscopy: A camera to check if cancer has involved the rectum or bowel

These are typically done under anesthesia if there's concern about nearby organ involvement.

Biomarker Testing for Advanced Disease

If your cancer is advanced or recurrent, NCCN Guidelines recommend biomarker testing (also called molecular testing or tumor profiling). This identifies specific features of your cancer cells that may guide treatment options, including:

• PD-L1 expression: Helps determine if immunotherapy might be effective
• HER2 status: Identifies if targeted HER2 therapies could be options
• Mismatch repair (MMR) and microsatellite instability (MSI): May indicate response to certain treatments

Why All These Tests Matter

These tests serve several purposes:

1. Staging: Determines how far your cancer has spread (using the FIGO staging system)
2. Treatment planning: Results guide whether you'll need surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, or a combination
3. Baseline health: Establishes your kidney and liver function before treatment begins
4. Prognosis: Helps your team understand your individual situation

Questions to Ask Your Care Team

• What is my cancer stage based on these test results?
• Do I need any additional testing before we start treatment?
• Will biomarker testing be done, and how will those results affect my treatment options?
• When will I have all my test results, and when can we discuss the treatment plan?
• Are there any test results I should get copies of for my records?

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This information is for educational purposes only. Always consult your healthcare team for personalized medical advice and decisions.