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:)