Procedures
Screening and treatment for premalignant disease and malignant disease (precancerous and cancerous cells)
Overview
Premalignant disease, also known as premalignant tumours, are cells that are not yet cancerous, but they have the potential to be malignant/cancerous. These may include:
- Cervical dysplasia – This condition occurs when there is a development of abnormal cells on the surface lining of the cervix, the opening between the uterus and the vagina. This often results from human papillomavirus (HPV).
- Endometrial hyperplasia – This is a condition where the lining of the uterus, called the endometrium, becomes abnormally thick. This condition may lead to uterine cancer.
Malignant disease, also known as malignant tumours, are cancerous cells that may grow and spread to other parts of the body. These may include:
- Carcinoma – These are a group of cancers that occur in the cells that make up the epithelial skin or tissue lining organs such as the liver or kidneys. These may include basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, renal cell carcinoma, ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), invasive ductal carcinoma and adenocarcinoma.
- Mesothelioma – This is a cancerous tumour that is caused by inhaled fibres of asbestos, which forms in the lining of internal organs such as the lungs, abdomen or the heart.
- Germ cell tumours – These are tumours which occur in the cells that are responsible for producing sperm and eggs. These normally occur in the testicles or ovaries but may also appear in the abdomen, chest or brain.
- Blastoma – These are tumours that develop in embryonic tissue or developing cells.
Screening for premalignant disease and malignant disease:
Screening appointments include Dr Hlabisa performing the following tests:
- Pap smear – A pap test is a procedure done to test for cervical cancer in women. It involves Dr Hlabisa collecting cells from the cervix and sending them to the lab for testing. Women who are 21 and above are recommended to do a pap test every 3 years.
- Endocervical curettage – This procedure involves Dr Hlabisa using a spoon-shaped instrument, called a curette to scrape tissue from the endocervical canal, to detect the presence of cancer cells in the cervix.
- HPV DNA test – This procedure involves the gynaecologist scraping tissue samples from the cervix to identify DNA of human papillomavirus (HPV), which cause cervical cancer.
- Biopsy – This is a procedure that involves the removal of a small portion of tissue and sent to the laboratory to determine whether you have cancer.
How are premalignant disease and malignant disease treated?
Treatment depends entirely on the type of premalignant or malignant disease you have. Dr Hlabisa may recommend the following:
- Surgery – Depending on the type of cancer you are diagnosed with, surgery may be recommended surgically removing cancerous tissue, as well as some surrounding tissue. This may be done using a minimally invasive procedure to help reduce healing time and the risk of infection after surgery.
- Radiation therapy – This procedure may be used in conjunction with surgery and/or chemotherapy. This involves the use of waves of energy, such as light or heat to treat cancers and other tumours.
- Chemotherapy – This is a drug treatment which uses powerful chemicals to kill fast-growing cells in the body.
- Cryotherapy – This procedure involves the usage of nitrous oxide to freeze the abnormal area, especially women who are diagnosed with advanced cervical disease.
