A 62-year-old patient with stage 0 carcinoma of the cervix that was determined by cervical conization has been told by her health care provider she needs no further treatment at this time. She asks the nurse why the doctor has not discussed other treatment options with her. The most appropriate response by the nurse is,

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Because conization involves excision of the abnormal area of the cervix, it can be used for both diagnosis and treatment. Although the patient's age is considered when choosing treatment for cervical cancer, the staging for this patient indicates that no further treatment is needed. The second statement indicates that there is still cervical cancer present, which is not the case with stage 0 cervical cancer. HPV infection does increase the risk for cervical cancer, but it does not impact whether further treatment is needed for this patient.

A 62-Year-Old Patient with Stage 0 Carcinoma of the Cervix