Before starting to talk about proctoscopy, let’s see first some elementary information about the cervical cancer. The cervical cancer is the disease characterized by many abnormal cells that grow in the cervix and create tumors. This disease also affects the female reproductive system. The cervix cancer cells are at the beginning thin, flat and squamous localized on the surface of the ectocervix. 90% of cervix cancer cells are squamous cell carcinomas. The cervix is the opening to the uterus. It varies in diameter from 1 mm to 3 mm depending on what phase of the menstrual cycle when there is measurement. The cervix is sometimes covered with cervical mucus to protect from infection, during ovulation the mucus becomes a thin fluid to permit the passage of sperm.

The cervical cancer is the second most common disease that affects the women all over the world. The first test that may detect abnormal cells into the cervix is the Pap smear test. The result of the test shows if the women has cervical cancer and the stage of the cancer and if she doesn’t have cervical cancer. The proctoscopy procedure is done in the advanced stages of the cervical cancer, when the disease has evolved and the abnormal cells have spread beyond the cervix. The proctoscopy is an examination of the rectum ( a 8 inch muscular tube that connects the large intestine (colon) to the anus the opening of the intestine that leads put of the body) using a proctoscope a special metal or plastic scope. Other diseases that can be diagnosed through the poctoscopy procedure are: the evaluation of abnormal results of a barium enema, to investigate causes of rectal bleeding, to check a possible return of rectal cancer ( to patients who have treated cancer). The doctor will offer specific instructions to the patient and will probably tell him to use a day before the procedure or even at his office an enema (medication that is inserted into the rectum to clean the bowel).

The proctoscopy is done at the clinic and first the doctor will insert gently a gloved finger into the anus of the patient to verify for tenderness or blockage, second the doctor will insert gently the lubricated proctoscope into the rectum and will pump air slowly to expand the rectum, third the doctor will insert a special instrument to remove growth or take a tissue sample, a biopsy. After the procedure is finished, the doctor will gently withdraw the proctoscope. The biopsy will be tested more detailed to a microscope to see if the tissue sample taken from inside the rectum has abnormal cells. The procedure is not a painful one, but some patients want local anesthesia. This procedure may last between 5 and 15 minutes and may have a little bit embarrassing noisy air escaping through the anus, but in this situation this is normal and expected. The connection between cervical cancer and proctoscopy is very unfortunate because the doctor recommends this procedure only when he suspects that the cancer had spread and affected the cells of the rectum.