Cervical cancer treatment, diagnosis & prescriptions

Maple is a virtual care platform that connects you with doctors and other healthcare providers via text, audio, or video. After you log in to your Maple account, you can request an online consultation.

Consultations work similarly to in-person appointments — the doctor can complete an assessment by asking questions about your symptoms, going through your health history, and determining what treatment is right for you. If they think your condition is more serious, they may tell you to go to a clinic for an in-person examination.

As a Maple member, you get 24/7 access to virtual primary care online and more. You can connect with our network of providers via text, audio, or video call within minutes.

Our membership costs $79.99/month and covers virtual care for patients and their families, including the primary account holder's spouse and any dependents.

For patients in eligible provinces, our membership includes:

• Access to daily primary care provider visits: One daily visit with a primary care provider for each family member in their household.
• Paediatric care: Covered paediatric primary care visits, available by appointment.
• Second medical opinions: access to a network of experts for a second opinion if diagnosed with a complex condition (e.g. cancer).
• Personal Health Check-Ins: A series of personalized, evidence-based proactive care screenings to maintain and improve health.
• iCBT courses: Access to iCBT (internet-based cognitive behavioural therapy) self-assessment and courses.
• Access to specialists in eligible provinces: Easy access to specialists on Maple within days, not months. No referral is needed.
• Specialist referrals in eligible provinces: Ability to be referred to a physician specialist for in-person care, if needed.
• Credit discounts: An $80 credit per month to be applied to a Maple specialist visit.

Please note that our membership cannot be combined with other offerings, such as private insurance coverage and provincial programs, where available. In some cases, membership fees can be covered by a Healthcare Spending Account (HSA) — check with your HSA provider for more details.

We accept all major credit cards, including AMEX cards, as well as Google and Apple Pay.

At Maple, we proudly prioritize privacy as a cornerstone of our virtual care services. We strictly adhere to privacy and healthcare legislation in Canada, such as PIPEDA and PHIPA regulations, to ensure patients' personal and health information remains completely private and safeguarded.

Our policies and consent processes are designed to be simple and easily understood, empowering individuals with control and a clear understanding of their healthcare journey. When using our services, a patient’s session is protected by a comprehensive security infrastructure and stringent data policies.

Patients also retain full control of their personal health information, medical records and test results at all times. Our approach is reinforced by consultations with leading experts, guaranteeing comprehensive policy frameworks that are reviewed at a regular cadence.

All providers delivering healthcare through Maple are licensed in Canada and governed by their licensing regulatory colleges, and in all instances, must act in accordance with the governing principles set out in the telemedicine policies of each medical regulator in the applicable province.

Regulators across Canada support and recognize the value of services like ours, and the way in which they can benefit patients, physicians, and Canada’s broader healthcare system by improving access to care and increasing efficiencies in the delivery of care.

Yes, in some cases a doctor from Maple will be able to offer a cervical cancer diagnosis by talking with you about your symptoms, reviewing your medical history and evaluating your condition. The doctor will most likely offer a referral to see a gynecologist, if they believe there is the possibility of cervical cancer.

As well, the doctor will suggest that you visit a clinic to have a more thorough cervical cancer screening done, in order to confirm the diagnosis. This will typically involve having a PAP smear performed.

Yes, our physicians can prescribe medications online during your consultation. Once you accept a prescription, you’ll have the option to pick it up from any pharmacy or to have it delivered right to your door at no additional cost.

You can visit our How it Works page to learn more.

The cervix is the lower part of the uterus, which connects to the vagina. Cervical cancer is a slow-growing cancer that occurs when cells inside the cervix mutate and begin to grow and multiply uncontrollably, forming masses called tumors.

Because this cancer forms in the cervix, it only occurs in women.

There are four cervical cancer types:

• Cervical carcinomas (also called squamous cell carcinomas). This makes up 85-90% of cervical cancer cells and is connected to HPV.
• Adenocarcinoma, which makes up 5-9% of cervical cancer cases
• Cervical sarcoma
• Small cell carcinoma

Unfortunately, there are typically no early warning signs of cervical cancer. It’s usually detected through routine check-ups, and cervical cancer pap smear tests.

Also due to the relationship between HPV and cervical cancer, being tested for HPV can also help increase the chances of detecting cervical cancer in its early stages.

However, there are some cervical cancer symptoms which appear once the cancer has begun

• Pelvic pain
• Unexplained pain during intercourse
• Bloody or watery vaginal discharge (usually accompanied by a strong/foul odour)

Unexplained vaginal bleeding after intercourse, after menopause or between periods.

Direct causes for cervical cancer are still unknown at this time, but it’s believed that in most cases (9 out of 10) HPV plays a role in developing cervical cancer.

Like other cancers, some of the remaining cases can be connected to mutations in the cells of the cervix, which could be brought on by lifestyle or environmental factors (exposure to radiation or chemicals, smoking, etc.)

Yes, cervical cancer can be cured. This is especially true if cervical cancer screening detects the cancer in its early stages.

It should be noted that as the cervical cancer stages progress, the chance of curing the cancer decreases. This is why receiving cervical cancer pap smear tests are important for detecting the cancer as early as possible.

Cervical cancer treatments will depend on recommendations from your doctor, the stage of the cancer and your preferences.

Typically, after these factors are discussed, cervical cancer is treated using:

• Surgery to remove the tumor masses. In more serious cases, the cervix or cervix and uterus may be removed as well.
• Radiation (externally, internally or utilizing both)
• Chemotherapy
• Immunotherapy
• Targeted therapy
• Palliative Care (to assist with pain and symptom management)

The best ways to prevent cervical cancer are:

• Practicing safe sex to avoid contracting HPV
• Performing routine pap smear tests (to detect precancerous conditions)
• Talking to your doctor about getting the HPV vaccine
• Quit smoking
• Avoid contact with dangerous cancer-causing chemicals
• Avoid unnecessary exposure to radiation