Anxiously Awaiting the Cone Biopsy

I have been diagnosed with HPV when one of my Pap Smears came back abnormal. The nurse had informed me that the abnormal results are either mild, moderate, or severe. She emphasized that my results were severe and scheduled a biopsy. I had the biopsy done and the results that came back from that 2 weeks after the procedure, did not match the Pap Smear. My Dr. was a bit worried about this since he feels like he is missing something. So now, I have a cone biopsy scheduled in March. I had done research on HPV and cervical cancer as soon as I had gotten my abnormal results and from reading about the cone biopsy, it was the one procedure that I did not want to go through. Of course, I was hoping that the biopsy would show no signs of what the Pap showed, and maybe find out that those Pap results were actually not mine or were completely wrong. Of course, that was my fantasy. I have read that some forms of HPV can go away on its own as long as the immune system is strong enough to fight it off. Since then, I am drinking DanActive to help boost my immune and have started taking vitamins. Because the biospy did not reflect the same result as the Pap, I am scared that when I go for my cone biopsy, that the Dr. may actually find cancer and have to remove my entire cervix or worse; my uterus. From the biopsy results, he did not show cancer, but then again, he feels like he is missing something. What if what he is missing is cancer? I am a young single mom and would like to one day have more kids. I am so scared that I won't be able to. As for the HPV, I just got the first Gardasil shot as the Dr. still recommended that I get it even though it won't cure my type of HPV, it will prevent it from becoming another type. The Dr. explained to me that he is going to perform the cone biopsy different than a woman going through menopause because his words, "you still have babies to make". I have one daughter and she is the greatest joy of my life and I feel a bit selfish being worried that I won't be able to have more kids. I am lucky enough to have one! I just have so many things going through my mind and I am trying to stay strong through it all, but at times, I can't help but to think of the what ifs. Has anyone gone through a cone biopsy and after had children? How was the procedure? Painful? Has your HPV gone away? Any info would be much appreciated.

I have had the biopsy and still have two beatiful kids, i always say health first you have to be alive to have kids so do what is necessary to keep your health up. I was afraid just like you but i made it through that,stay prayerful and take all the precautions that you can.I take prenatal vitamis prescribed by my doctor [primacare1]. I have been going back and forth with pap's and biopsy's for years now ill soon have the leep i started with the doctors visits at age 18 i am now 25 so just imagine all i have had to deal with, and felt i have had the questions, fears, and anxious thoughs just as you have.The biopsy isnt really all that painful it more so the process and thought of it that can be scary but its worth going through if it keeps your health..,feel free to message me for anymore questions i have been through a lot of the tests'pap's biopsy's etc. and will give any advice i have to share!

I'm sorry you are going through this. I honestly think you need to get a second opinion before you have a cone biopsy because the results seem so mixed. I have some questions for you, though, and the answers to these questions might help you have a better idea of what has been happening.

1. Have you seen any of the lab reports? If not, please call the office and tell them to fax them to you or have a copy of them ready for you to pick up. It will be your first step in educating yourself.

2. Did the doctor do an ECC? If not, insist on it. Or when you see a different doctor, have it done, then. You may want to consider another doctor, altogether. Between looking at the lab reports, making sure all steps were taken to diagnose you, and getting the second opinion, you'll be able to determine if you really need a cone biopsy. If you don't, you'll have spared yourself a lot of anger and grief. If you do need the cone biopsy, you'll have more confidence about it.

3. When did you have the Gardasil shots? You are the third woman who had Gardasil and then developed dysplasia. This is not to frighten or upset you because I know you are already feeling that way. But if there is a juxtaposition, then we need to get more answers.

In the meantime, is there anybody in your family you can talk to? It helps so much to have a shoulder to cry on. Sometimes our families may want to help us but don't know how. So, we have to tell them exactly what would help. And if you do need a cone biopsy, please don't hesitate to have somebody go with you to at least hold your hand and to help you arrange child care, that day. It makes all the difference in the world to have somebody there.

Hi Gabzb!

Thank you so much for the advice! It helps to talk to someone who has gone through the same thing and it is definitely awesome to know that you have had two children after going through everything you have gone through. I am sorry that you have had to do all this for so long! Have they, through the biopsys, gotten rid of the disease and then it came back? My doctor is hoping that by doing the cone biopsy, it will get rid of the disease all together. Of course unfortunately, the HPV won't go away. I was told though that some forms of HPV do go away on its own so I am hoping that by boosting my immune system, it becomes a possibility for me. What if the disease goes away after the cone biopsy and then I go back to having normal Pap Smears? How am I supposed to know if the HPV is still there or not? The worst thing really, is that nothing is definite. I think that is what really scares me the most.

 I was told that the cone biopsy will be about an hour, I will be given anesthetics, and that I will be able to go home the same day. How long did you bleed for after the biopsy? I have so many questions, I apologize for bombarding you with them! I am having the surgery on a Wednesday, so I requested that Wed, Thu, & Fri off from work. I should be in good enough shape to go back on Monday right? How long was recovery? Was it bad?

Thanks again for the reassurance! It is so uplifting to know that you were able to have two wonderful children after all the things you went through. You are so strong!

Hi Herenow!

Thank you also for the advice! I am definitely not comfortable with the results being as skewed as they were, but my doctor also seemed very concerned and this is why he wants to proceed with the cone biopsy. The biopsy showed that all I had was inflamation, but the Pap had shown much worse. It makes me feel good to know that he wants to take all precautions and wants to make sure he is not missing anything. He might find out that I won't need a cone biopsy, which would be nice but I doubt is going to happen. My worst fear is that when he goes to do the cone biopsy, that he will find my entire cervix infected and have to remove it entirely.

I have seen some of the paperwork that came back when I met with the doctor to discuss the results. He was very informative with what came back. One question for you though, what is an ECC?  I am not sure if I have had that or not. (I don't believe I have). I will look into having a second opinion. Thanks for the advice. It never hurts to do that.

As for the Gardasil shot, I just got the first one. A bit too late since I was already informed that I have HPV. I got the Gardasil about two weeks after I had the biopsy done. My next one is in March. I know that with HPV, you could have it for years and have nothing show up to show that you are infected. So maybe those women who had the shot and then found a symptom, might have received the virus before anything showed and before they received the shots? I was told that HPV could be in your system for many years before you are diagnosed, which is why it is passed so much! No one knows they have it! Having it, I am scared to have sex with anyone. Even though a condom will help protect against transmitting it, my fear would be the condom breaking and I would be very disappointed with myself if I were to infect another person.

As for family support, I couldn't ask for a better one. My mother has been there for me for everything! We have already arranged a babysitter and my mother has arranged to be able to be there with me that day. She is also going to have me spend the recovery time at her house. This way, she will be able to help watch my little one while I recoup. I don't know what I would do without her. I really wanted to be on this message board though to talk with people who know information on or have been through the same situation. As much as family support is there, it is hard to have them relate to what you are personally going through.

Thanks so much for listening and giving the advice. It is comforting to know that there are people out there that are willing to do so!

You are very welcome and i dont feel overwhlemed or bombarded by your questions I believe God uses us all for testimony to help others in the situations that we ourselves have had to face and over come.I too hate that i have had to do this for so long but at this point all i can do is do what i must to keep myself health for myself and my boys. I have not gotten rid of my HPV i have had it and it has never gone away, I am having a LEEP on the 24th and maybe this will do it this time aroung but only time will tell.They do say that sometimes it goes away on its own but mine has not and i dont know what the percentage of that happening is.As for boosting your immune system put yourself on a diet [ not literally] but make sure you are eatting right you could also try prentatl vitamins my doctor has me taking prescribed ones and it helps. You can have the cone biopsy and go back to having normal pap smears but that does not mean that it has gone away it also does not mean that it hasnt, this HPV stuff can be very complex and hard to ever fully understand. I know how u feel as far as being scared, i am that way a lot and when i feel that way I pray because I know that God does not give us fear! I didnt bleed much at all i had a brownish discharge for about two weeks though. On the returning back to work YES you should be good to go back to work on Monday. Recovery isnt bad or that long i would say 3 to four days i still have some abdomen pain from time to time but im ok now. You too can be strong just stay prayerful and keep your self looking beautiful so that you will feel beautiful and take all the steps that you can to be healthy. DO NOT hesitate to ask the doctor any questions that you have. I googled the procedure and wrote down questions i had about side effects that other women say that they had, it helped. If you have anymore quetions I dont mind....Godd luck and God bless!

An ECC means an endocervical cuterage. It's when the doctor scrapes cells inside the endocervical canal to find out if there are any abnormalities there. I'm glad your doctor is upfront with you and showing you reports. But please insist on the ECC before you do anything. Otherwise, I see one of the following scenarios for you. Bear in mind, these are on the extreme side.

Scenario 1. Your doctor does the cone biopsy, and there is something there. He will have caught it, which will thankfully save your life.

Scenario 2.  Your body has cleared up the dysplasia on its own, due to your immune system being strong. The doctor, who did not do an ECC, goes ahead with a cone biopsy you don't need and puts you at risk for complications. You'll be livid, and he'll be uncomfortable with your anger.

With these two factors, an ECC would help a doctor further diagnosis you. Please get an ECC and a second opinion.