Unsure Of Diagnosis

would love some input from others diagnosed with cervical cancer.  I have had annual paps since i was 18-way before i became sexually active.  I started getting physicals mainly to deal with my painful endometriosis.  fortunately, my symptoms for that have been under control with the use of BCP.  I also had a benign ovarian cyst about 2-3 years ago.  this was a huge scare because my mother's sister had ovarian cancer at the same age 35...she survived but was left with cardiac problems from the high dose chemo.  I just had my annual physical earlier this month...i went in a few days early because I felt i was suffering from either yeast or bacterial infection.  I tend to get them after my menstrual cycle...according to the experts this is typical with BCP use.  much to my shock i got my first abnormal pap at 37 with carcinoma in situ.  i managed to get the colposcopy done the same day the office called me.  I was assured i probably had HPV because almost all cervical cancers are due to it.  this is shocking because i have had only 3 sex partners and was around 28 when i had sex the first time.  to me, this has been the hardest part is the association with a STD.  one of my nursing friends said that there are stats as high as 30% for women with cervical cancer from non-hpv sources.  i was born during the time women used DES and unsure if this was used.  also, my colposcopy was not able to be completed because the doctor could not find anything to remove.  not sure what he did but my pathology after this procedure revealed chronic inflammation.  next he wanted to do the cone biosopy or leep procedure to confirm which test was correct.  I am leary of having a procedure that might leave pregnancy very difficult.  if they could have waited a month on the colposcopy why not 6 weeks for another pap?  needless to say, i am being referred to a gyn onc whom i know well professionally.  can anyone comment on my history?  has anyone with cancer had such a radical pap?  the doctor did not feel my results were mixed with another.  thoughts? 

 

On 11/26/2007 bluebirdtulips wrote:

would love some input from others diagnosed with cervical cancer.  I have had annual paps since i was 18-way before i became sexually active.  I started getting physicals mainly to deal with my painful endometriosis.  fortunately, my symptoms for that have been under control with the use of BCP.  I also had a benign ovarian cyst about 2-3 years ago.  this was a huge scare because my mother's sister had ovarian cancer at the same age 35...she survived but was left with cardiac problems from the high dose chemo.  I just had my annual physical earlier this month...i went in a few days early because I felt i was suffering from either yeast or bacterial infection.  I tend to get them after my menstrual cycle...according to the experts this is typical with BCP use.  much to my shock i got my first abnormal pap at 37 with carcinoma in situ.  i managed to get the colposcopy done the same day the office called me.  I was assured i probably had HPV because almost all cervical cancers are due to it.  this is shocking because i have had only 3 sex partners and was around 28 when i had sex the first time.  to me, this has been the hardest part is the association with a STD.  one of my nursing friends said that there are stats as high as 30% for women with cervical cancer from non-hpv sources.  i was born during the time women used DES and unsure if this was used.  also, my colposcopy was not able to be completed because the doctor could not find anything to remove.  not sure what he did but my pathology after this procedure revealed chronic inflammation.  next he wanted to do the cone biosopy or leep procedure to confirm which test was correct.  I am leary of having a procedure that might leave pregnancy very difficult.  if they could have waited a month on the colposcopy why not 6 weeks for another pap?  needless to say, i am being referred to a gyn onc whom i know well professionally.  can anyone comment on my history?  has anyone with cancer had such a radical pap?  the doctor did not feel my results were mixed with another.  thoughts? 

 

hello,

my name is sophia and i am 21, and have been dealing with moderate dysplasia since i was 18. I have recently undergone the LEEP, and it was not as bad as I thought it would have been. My Ob Gyn is a "high risk" doctor, and he really knows what he is doing. He has been supportive and watching me since I had mild dysplasia, before it progressed. I think that if you doubt anything with your doctor that you should get a new one. There is nothing worse than knowing that your doctor messed up a procedure. My Ob Gyn was telling me about horror stories of women who have had multiple LEEP's and how it really messed up their chances to carry a full term pregnancy, much less to even get pregnant. I know that there are a lot of doctors who are leary about watching carcinoma in situ, but it seems that he is rushing it a bit. I would recommend getting a different doctor.    

Is there a way you can find your medical history to see if you are a DES baby?

HI,

I am so sorry you have to go through this but hopefully reading my story might help you make some decisions for yourself or help to inspire some questions you might want to ask you doctor. 1st thing your friend the nurse is correct not all cervical cancer is caused by HPV. You can still get cervical cancer and not have HPV. Here is my story.

I had a pap in Aug 07,, some like to say it was divine intervention because I ended up getting that pap because I had a free mammogram done and they sent me to women's connection who provide services to women over 40 with no insurance (thats me). I got the dreaded phone call two weeks later to the date and wanted me to come in because my pap came back abnormal. I told them I was on the way. My pap came back "favor neoplasia not to disinclude HGSIL" (I wish I still had that diagnosis:). I was sent to a specialist, an oncologist/GYN to have a colposcopy done, during the colp the doctor said she did not see anything that looked worrisome or concerned her and drew me a little progress map of what exactly HGSIL was and where it landed in the whole "C" scheme of things. HGSIL is not cancer, it is a pre-cancer type of diagnosis. That made me feel pretty good but I still worried of course. . I had the colp done and exactly one week later I got a call from that doctor that I needed to come in the next day for the biopsy results and  I thought a leep but then found out I would have to have an endometrial biopsy. I asked what my new diagnosis was and was told it was not "adenocarcinoma in situ" I went in for my appointment this was on 10/31/07 and had the endo biopsy done (I was so scared because I had read post that terrified me) My endo biopsy came back normal. However I was still sitting with the adenocarcinoma in situ now they are saying it is encapsulated?? I found out that is a good thing it means it  has not spread and is in one spot. (I wish I still had that diagnosis). I was then sent to another specialist who called me after getting my path results sent to him and scheduled me for an appointment on 20 Nov 07. I went in and the doctor went over all my results and drew me a new sketch of the stages of diagnosis from my upcoming cold cone which ironically would be the next day!! Yep 21 Nov, 07 which was also my sons 17th b-day. The doctor drew me a sketch and sorta like a family tree thing where it would branch off and then I would have either this or that type of treatment that corresponds with the level and of course the worse one would be the cancer has metastasis and surgery would not help only options would be chemo and or radiation. Anyway I had the surgery and one week later the doctor called to tell me what the results were. My new diagnosis is "invasive adenocarcinoma with squamous components staged 1A2" I have cervical cancer. I know because of the sketch what my treatment options will be so I know I am going to have a hysterectomy with lymph samples taken and if they come back clear I will not have to have chemo or radiation but if they come back involved then I will.  I don't want to scare you at all, we are all so different and cancer is so different and there are so many women who will find out they do not have cancer and I hope you are one of them I just want you to get as much information as you can so you can be ready to ask millions of question. There is another website you might find very helpful called hystersister they have a cancer forum on there and I have found such great support and help there too. Please go to an oncologist they are the professionals get the test you deserve to make the correct diagnosis. I wish you the best. I go in for my treatment options appointment this coming Wed;) I wish you the best:)