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FAQs
Published: Updated Friday October 1, 2010
HPV FOCAL Study Frequently Asked Questions:
1. How can I find out if my doctor is included in the study?
You can call your doctor's office to see if they are participating as Family Practitioner Collaborators, or you can phone the study center and someone will be able to tell you.
2. What happens if I change doctors while taking part in the study?
If you change doctors while you are still a study participant, it's important you contact the study center to let us know. For your health and safety, it's important the study center is notified so we can ensure your follow-up schedule is communicated to your new doctor. Also, it's important you tell your new doctor that you are a participant in the HPV FOCAL Study.
3. If I do not qualify for the study am I at greater risk of contracting cervical cancer?
No, if you do not participate in the study, you can still see your healthcare provider for regular cervical screening through the BC Cervical Cancer Screening Program.
4. Is HPV testing currently available in the province of BC?
No, HPV testing is not standard of care in the province of BC at this time. It is currently only available to participants who are in the HPV FOCAL Study. If you are not a study participant, HPV testing is something you would need to discuss with your healthcare provider. If your practitioner feels it is in your best interest to have HPV testing done, he/she may be able to have it organized through special provincial laboratories, but it will not be covered by the Medical Services Plan of BC.
5. How long will participation in the study take?
Women will be followed in the study from two to four years, depending on the testing samples receive and the results of the testing. If a woman's samples show a higher degree of abnormality she may need more immediate treatment. If sample results are normal, she would not need another screen exam for two to four years. Other than a brief phone call with the study centre, the only extra time for study participation is visits to the doctor for your cervical screen exam.
6. Will I know what testing my samples will receive?
The samples will be randomly assigned to testing when they are received at the lab. Neither you or your doctor will know what group you are assigned to. The results of the testing will be sent to your doctor. If the results of the testing are "normal" (no abnormalities or HPV negative) your doctor will tell you when your next follow-up appointment should be. If the results of your samples are positive (ie: HPV found, or abnormalities seen) your doctor will tell you what treatment or follow-up you should have.
7. If I become a participant in the study, can I still get an annual pap test?
It's important that if you consent to be a participant in the study, that you adhere to the screening schedule told to you by the study doctors. Women in the study do not need an annual pap test. The screening schedule will vary depending on the study group you are assigned to, and the results of any of your testing. The study has been designed based on years of research, and also what is occurring elsewhere in the world. There are no experimental procedures or devices used in the study. In addition, this study has been approved by an ethics board and continually monitored. If women have no HPV or no abnormality seen in their samples, follow-up is not required for 2 or more years. There are many safety mechanisms built into it to ensure all women who participate are followed thoroughly and safely. All women in the study will be offered at least the standard of care in the province.
8. In one of the study groups, it says if my initial HPV test is normal, I don't need another screening exam for 4 years. Is that safe?
If the initial HPV test is normal, that means your risk for developing cervical cancer is very low. Research shows that in order for HPV to develop into cervical cancer, it needs to be present for many years. Most HPV infections go away on their own, within about 2 years. Therefore, if there is no HPV found at that very first visit, it is safe to go for 4 years without another screening exam. One thing to remember is the pap test and the HPV test are two different things. The pap smear alone is not as effective at detecting abnormalities as doctors would like it to be. To make up for the fact that the pap smear may not detect abnormalities each time, it needs to be performed every year or two to make sure nothing is missed. HPV testing is very good at detecting what it’s meant to detect. Research has shown that one normal HPV test is as safe for four years as one normal pap test is for one year only. If the HPV test is normal it is very unlikely that you would have any cervical cell abnormalities. There are many safety mechanisms built into the study to ensure that all women, regardless of their study group are followed and managed safely and appropriately.
9. What happens if I find out I'm HPV positive?
If any of your samples show HPV is present, we know that we need to do further follow-up. The laboratory can use that very same sample collected on you, to do pap testing to see if you have any abnormal cervical cells. If HPV is found and you also have abnormal cells on the cervix from the pap testing, you may need a colposcopy. A colposcopy is a closer exam of the cervix and vagina to assess the extent and severity of any problem that may have been found. You would then be treated based on the colposcopy results. Sometimes, HPV is found, but there are no abnormal cells on the cervix. If this is the case, you would be asked to see the doctor again in about 12 months to see if the HPV has disappeared. It's important to remember, that more than 75% of sexually active individuals will be infected by one or more of the various HPV types at some point in their lives and most times, the HPV infection goes away on its own. HPV infections are very common in all societies and being HPV positive is not a sign of promiscuity. If you ever have any questions about HPV, please call the FOCAL Study center. Also, some great information on HPV can be found at www.hpvinfo.ca.
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