This is why I am freaking out a little and I am hoping that some sane people who have been through this can comment because the more I think about this, the more worried I get.

Starting eight years ago I began a nightmare of bleeding, spotting, and cramps so bad I once almost fainted. This lasted for five years during which time I was examined in every way and given a zillion ultrasounds. The most they found was cycts on my left ovary, fibroids, and maybe adenomyosis. Three years ago I was so over the whole thing I wanted a hysterectomy. My doctor said fine and I scheduled an appointment to schedule the hysterectomy.

My next period was completely normal. I cancelled the appointment and decided to wait until the pain and bleeding came back. Weirdly, three years passed. The pain or bleeding never returned. Three years of feeling normal was great but I was afraid to even look at my gyno's office for fear of the bleeding returning (silly, I know) so I didn't even have a pap.

I am 40 now and we are about to go to China for a year with my husband's job. I scheduled a bunch of doctor appointments, including a pap. My gyn retired in my three year absence but I liked the new dr. She called me a few days ago and told me my pap came back with "moderate to severe HSIL" I looked online and I understand that this is pre-cancerous, and she already told me when I go back in (in three days, during which time I may have a nervous breakdown!) I will have a LEEP. That I get, but what is worrying me is the idea that all that bleeding and pain was from cervical cancer that started eight years ago (yikes!) and that maybe it is one of those kind that hides up in the cervix and so gets missed on paps and exams, but has really been growing all this time and has now spread to everything.

First, the doctor was like, No, if you had cancer all this time I would have seen something. So I said, well, I have had cervical cancer symptoms and no one ever found out what was really wrong. So, then she did say, "it could be related" (and she said that twice, like she was pondering it the first time and then agreed with herself) but now I am thinking, she is not all that familiar with my case, being that I just became her patient, and maybe she is not realizing that we are talking 8 years ago.

Okay, even if you have no advice, take my advice: get yearly pap smears!!! Waiting three years has definitley put a twist of confusion on a bad situation.

Thanks to all who take the time to read my rambling. Maybe I am also freaked out little becuase we are leaving the country...it is a crazy time for this to happen!

Kim

Kim, first of all...welcome to the board! You have come to the right place to vent, ask questions, get advice and just get "all around" good information from the ladies that are going through some of the exact same things you are.

It is always easier said than done, but try not to worry too much yet. Your symptoms very well may be something quite common and easily treated...and the Leep will let you and your doctor know what is going on for sure. I would think that it was highly unlikely for something to be missed when you were having all those initial tests 3 years ago.

You are being proactive now and that is great. Just try to relax and know that the ladies are here if you have questions, concerns, etc.

If you have questions for your doctor, make a list and take them with you on your next appointment. That always seems to help me.

Take care and God speed,

Tori

Hi Tori and thanks for the reply.

I know I am being overworried. Do you really think it would be possible for a cervical cancer to develop for almost a decade, causing bleeding symptoms, and still not be visible on the cervix, or ultrasounds? Plus, missed by pap smears? It would be good to know if this was 1) impossible, 2) extremely unlikely, 3) unlikely, or 4) possible. I suppose nothing is impossible in the world of cancer, but I have been symptom-free for three years so this would have to be some kind of weird cancer.

Funny thing: I got my period the same day the doctor called with the pap results and this period has been my most mild, light, and normal period ever. It feels like my uterus is trying to comfort me knowing that my cervix is up to some nasty tricks. :-)

Kim

Oh, I forgot: I wanted to ask, what is an EEC? I have read here that people should ask for it when they get the biopsy, but I don't know what it is. Is it standard? Should I also ask for a uterine biopsy? I was thinking maybe (I don't know if this is even possible) but what if the cells they found weren't cervical at all, but endometrial? With my history that makes more sense given all the crud (fibroids, addenomyosis, etc.) hiding out in my uterus.

Thanks again, Kim

Hi and welcome,

It's doubtful that you have cervical cancer if nothing has shown up until recently. Cervical cancer is usually very slow to spread, and there would have been clear signs or symptoms by now.

It's more likely that the bad cramps, heavy bleeding and spotting was caused by fibroids. I had a hysterectomy five years ago because of three fibroids that made my life miserable for six months.

As a dear lady on another cancer board always says, "Don't waste a good panic." I know it's easy to imagine the worst (I've done it too!), but hang in there and try to think positively.

Best wishes, lots of hugs, and prayers for only good news for you!

Lisa

Hi thought id check out some other posts here i have my own going as you know but the laprascope they want me to do sounds like what you should be havin done. i have to go to surgery for the LEEP but have also had abdominal pain which is why thay wanna do the laprascope. my gyno has told me there is a thing called endotriomitis(not sure on how to spell that) which does not show up in any smears nor can it be seen during a colposcopy the only way they can see it is with mild evasive surgery or otherwise known as a laprascope. they make 3 small incisions in your abdomen and put a camera in there(that's the short version) anyway i have not had any abnormal bleeding only the pain and she has suggested it to me, it has nothin to do with the hpv virus thingy that i need surgery for that does not cause pain in the abdomen she thinks it may be that endo thing so im plannin on doin it if i can just to rule it out and apparently it eases the pain. Search for laprascope on the net and it will tell you everythin there it made it pretty clear to me anyhow oh one last thing that endo thing can cause infertility if that's a worry to you
Good Luck
Suz

Hi all,
Just a quick update: I had the biopsy colp. yesterday. It was not as big of a deal as I had feared. My dr. ketp saying, here is a sample, to her assistant, and I was like, "What? That was another one?" I didn't even feel a thing. She did an endocervical something-or-another that was uncomfortable, but also not a problem. Later that charcol stuff leaking out stung a little, so if you are in this boat, buy some baby wipes. I just cleaned it off every hour or so until it stopped.
Now the waiting. I am scheduled for a LEEP on the 8th. Any suggestions?

Kim