CTdee
06-21-2007, 11:13 AM
Hi everyone...
well the title of my post says it all. This is what the nurse at my Drs office said. I have to go in for a colposcopy, however, since I don't have my insurance yet the Dr said I can wait untill Sept to have it done. I go in yearly and have never missed a year, I am 33. Is this something to be overly stressed over?? any words of wisdom would be wonderful...
thanks!
Dee
well the title of my post says it all. This is what the nurse at my Drs office said. I have to go in for a colposcopy, however, since I don't have my insurance yet the Dr said I can wait untill Sept to have it done. I go in yearly and have never missed a year, I am 33. Is this something to be overly stressed over?? any words of wisdom would be wonderful...
thanks!
Dee
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karen32
06-21-2007, 11:28 AM
My abnormal pap smear was taken on Feb 20 or something like that, and I did not have my colposcopy until beginning of June. The colpo confirmed CIN 3. I was supposed to go in May, but we delayed it due to personal issues. I ended up having a leep a week after my colposcopy. *Statistically* it should not be an issue waiting for three months, but of course, if there is any way that you can get one done sooner it would make things easier for you in terms of not having to wait and worry. I'm sorry, I'm not familiar with the insurance system, but some of the gals here might be. I hope they can give you some help or advice regarding the insurance.
I've never been tested for hpv. It's just assumed that I have it.
I've never been tested for hpv. It's just assumed that I have it.
furtiva
06-21-2007, 11:28 AM
quick question,
how do you know that your HPV was negative? the only way to determine that is through the HPV DNA test, which is not done simustanesly with the PAP, it's a seperate procedure.
Not that it matters that much, since you already have the changes.
I'd suggest to go to DOH (state department of health) and get some referrals for discounted, scale based women health clinics or find out from the women national cancer websites if they have any screening program in your area and if you qualify for that (no insurance and low salary/not working) your colpo will be free.
HGSIL is not a verdict of cancer, yet is quite high grade. Remember that PAP's are diagnostics only, they will raise the flag for your doctor and you than it's up to you to follow it up. Time wise, I dont think that three months will make a big diffeerence, but than again you went within a year to HGSIL, for your own peace of mind get it checked out as soon as you can.
how do you know that your HPV was negative? the only way to determine that is through the HPV DNA test, which is not done simustanesly with the PAP, it's a seperate procedure.
Not that it matters that much, since you already have the changes.
I'd suggest to go to DOH (state department of health) and get some referrals for discounted, scale based women health clinics or find out from the women national cancer websites if they have any screening program in your area and if you qualify for that (no insurance and low salary/not working) your colpo will be free.
HGSIL is not a verdict of cancer, yet is quite high grade. Remember that PAP's are diagnostics only, they will raise the flag for your doctor and you than it's up to you to follow it up. Time wise, I dont think that three months will make a big diffeerence, but than again you went within a year to HGSIL, for your own peace of mind get it checked out as soon as you can.
CTdee
06-21-2007, 11:37 AM
Furtiva,
I just assumed that my Dr did the test.. how else would she be able to say I was negative.. now you got me thinking!!! How is the HPV test done?? I do thank you for your replies.. I just really can't swing the $$$ for the biopsy out of pocket.. I own a small business, and DH just started a new job so this is my only choice. I just hope I am not making the biggest mistake in my life.
Dee
I just assumed that my Dr did the test.. how else would she be able to say I was negative.. now you got me thinking!!! How is the HPV test done?? I do thank you for your replies.. I just really can't swing the $$$ for the biopsy out of pocket.. I own a small business, and DH just started a new job so this is my only choice. I just hope I am not making the biggest mistake in my life.
Dee
furtiva
06-21-2007, 11:53 AM
I think what happens is that when the doctors send the pap smear lab work to the lab, they might ask for a relfexology to the HPV. Now that can be indicative, but it is not definite. I even called the lab directly because the lab report said that my report was positive to HPV reflexology.
The lab specialit went through my records and specifically told me that they did not look for HPV evidence in the PAP. They just assumed it. It is the norm that doctors/lab assume it if they notice abnormalities that go beyond ACSUS, which is often the case, but not always.
Again, don't worry muc habout HPV at this stage, the test to determine which strain you have will cost you money and it will only confirm that you have the high strains if you do, so it will just make you more worried. YOU need to know what excatly you have through a biopsy.
I helped a friend of mine doing research for free biopses and she managed to get in a free screeing program that Planned parenthood was doing in collaboration with Columbia University in NYC for women who can not afford pap/breast screening. She told them she did not have the PAP, so that she could go easily in. She got the colpo for free, and a discounted LEEP from PP.
I searched online, and nationawide there are several programs including screening for breast cancer and pap smears that will give you either free procedures or at least will refer you to places where you can get a much better price, like community health centers, or university collaboration. Ask around peaople who might know, call DOH, PP and others and get checked.
The lab specialit went through my records and specifically told me that they did not look for HPV evidence in the PAP. They just assumed it. It is the norm that doctors/lab assume it if they notice abnormalities that go beyond ACSUS, which is often the case, but not always.
Again, don't worry muc habout HPV at this stage, the test to determine which strain you have will cost you money and it will only confirm that you have the high strains if you do, so it will just make you more worried. YOU need to know what excatly you have through a biopsy.
I helped a friend of mine doing research for free biopses and she managed to get in a free screeing program that Planned parenthood was doing in collaboration with Columbia University in NYC for women who can not afford pap/breast screening. She told them she did not have the PAP, so that she could go easily in. She got the colpo for free, and a discounted LEEP from PP.
I searched online, and nationawide there are several programs including screening for breast cancer and pap smears that will give you either free procedures or at least will refer you to places where you can get a much better price, like community health centers, or university collaboration. Ask around peaople who might know, call DOH, PP and others and get checked.
MichelleNTX
06-21-2007, 01:39 PM
Hi everyone...
well the title of my post says it all. This is what the nurse at my Drs office said. I have to go in for a colposcopy, however, since I don't have my insurance yet the Dr said I can wait untill Sept to have it done. I go in yearly and have never missed a year, I am 33. Is this something to be overly stressed over?? any words of wisdom would be wonderful...
thanks!
Dee
Hi Dee -- since you have yet to get a colposcopy/biopsy, try not to stress too much on the initial Pap results. A Pap test is only an indicator that there may (or may not) be abnormal cells. The only way to diagnose dysplasia/cancer is through colposcopy/biopsy. And don't forget -- at least half of all women (50 to 80 percent) whose Pap smears are classified as abnormal don't have cervical cancer, and don't have conditions that will become cervical cancer. The higher grade of dysplasia, the lower these statistics become -- but again, your Pap test did not diagnose you with high-grade dysplasia, but merely indicated that you may have high-grade abnormalities. Do get that colposcopy done in Septemeber.
Regarding the HPV test, since any test for HPV subtype is limited to only that subtype or group of subtypes, it will miss a certain number of HPV infections. The combinations that have been screened for often include the most common types associated with malignancy. No one knows what other types will be missed so it is only a guess as to how accurate a test is. In general, positives are positive, i.e., there are very few false positive tests. If you are tested positive for say type 16, 18 HPV, then that result is probably 95% certain. The opposite is not true, however. If the test is negative, you could have been exposed to some other type.
Good Luck in September, and keep us posted!
well the title of my post says it all. This is what the nurse at my Drs office said. I have to go in for a colposcopy, however, since I don't have my insurance yet the Dr said I can wait untill Sept to have it done. I go in yearly and have never missed a year, I am 33. Is this something to be overly stressed over?? any words of wisdom would be wonderful...
thanks!
Dee
Hi Dee -- since you have yet to get a colposcopy/biopsy, try not to stress too much on the initial Pap results. A Pap test is only an indicator that there may (or may not) be abnormal cells. The only way to diagnose dysplasia/cancer is through colposcopy/biopsy. And don't forget -- at least half of all women (50 to 80 percent) whose Pap smears are classified as abnormal don't have cervical cancer, and don't have conditions that will become cervical cancer. The higher grade of dysplasia, the lower these statistics become -- but again, your Pap test did not diagnose you with high-grade dysplasia, but merely indicated that you may have high-grade abnormalities. Do get that colposcopy done in Septemeber.
Regarding the HPV test, since any test for HPV subtype is limited to only that subtype or group of subtypes, it will miss a certain number of HPV infections. The combinations that have been screened for often include the most common types associated with malignancy. No one knows what other types will be missed so it is only a guess as to how accurate a test is. In general, positives are positive, i.e., there are very few false positive tests. If you are tested positive for say type 16, 18 HPV, then that result is probably 95% certain. The opposite is not true, however. If the test is negative, you could have been exposed to some other type.
Good Luck in September, and keep us posted!
gorgikin
06-21-2007, 01:53 PM
Hi Dee,
Sorry to hear you are in this boat. It is possible to have HPV, even high risk HPV, and still test negative for it. I found this out through my own experiences. I was treated for CIN III back in 2005. They also indicated CIN I & benign endocervical tissue beyond the margins, but never tested me for HPV, just assumed I had it. In January of 2006 I requested an HPV test through Kaiser since it was the last month I would be covered by their insurance. The test came back positive for high risk HPV. The end of the following month I went to Planned Parenthood for my repap. It came back ASCUS, and when they ran an HPV probe it came back negative. So...they never did another colposcopy. Now I am covered under my new husband's insurance so I am under a new doctor's care. When I asked her what to make of testing positive one month, and negative the next, she explained it as my body was fighting it off just enough for it to fall under the radar, but told me I will likely have it for life & therefore need to keep on top of my paps.
I also agree with Michelle in terms of waiting for the colp/biopsy. There was a discrepency between my pap & bio. I am wishing you the best, and please let us know how it goes.
Sorry to hear you are in this boat. It is possible to have HPV, even high risk HPV, and still test negative for it. I found this out through my own experiences. I was treated for CIN III back in 2005. They also indicated CIN I & benign endocervical tissue beyond the margins, but never tested me for HPV, just assumed I had it. In January of 2006 I requested an HPV test through Kaiser since it was the last month I would be covered by their insurance. The test came back positive for high risk HPV. The end of the following month I went to Planned Parenthood for my repap. It came back ASCUS, and when they ran an HPV probe it came back negative. So...they never did another colposcopy. Now I am covered under my new husband's insurance so I am under a new doctor's care. When I asked her what to make of testing positive one month, and negative the next, she explained it as my body was fighting it off just enough for it to fall under the radar, but told me I will likely have it for life & therefore need to keep on top of my paps.
I also agree with Michelle in terms of waiting for the colp/biopsy. There was a discrepency between my pap & bio. I am wishing you the best, and please let us know how it goes.
MichelleNTX
06-21-2007, 01:58 PM
CynwithCIN is right! This is an excerpt from the American Society for Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology:
---------------------------
Will I always have HPV?
- The answer to this question is not clear.
- Most people (up to 90%) who test positive for HPV with very sensitive tests for HPV (polymerase chain reaction [PCR] and Hybrid Capture 2) will become HPV negative on the same tests within 6 to 24 months from first testing positive. This is due to an effective immune response to HPV.
- What is not known is whether this means that the virus is actually eliminated from the body or just suppressed to such a low number of HPVs (as in latency) that even these sensitive tests cannot detect it.
- Whether it is completely eliminated or just suppressed does not matter because most people who have an effective immune response to HPV do not ever have lesions develop from this HPV infection.
- A minority of people may be at-risk for having return of warts or other HPV lesions later in life, usually if immunity is seriously compromised.
---------------------------
Will I always have HPV?
- The answer to this question is not clear.
- Most people (up to 90%) who test positive for HPV with very sensitive tests for HPV (polymerase chain reaction [PCR] and Hybrid Capture 2) will become HPV negative on the same tests within 6 to 24 months from first testing positive. This is due to an effective immune response to HPV.
- What is not known is whether this means that the virus is actually eliminated from the body or just suppressed to such a low number of HPVs (as in latency) that even these sensitive tests cannot detect it.
- Whether it is completely eliminated or just suppressed does not matter because most people who have an effective immune response to HPV do not ever have lesions develop from this HPV infection.
- A minority of people may be at-risk for having return of warts or other HPV lesions later in life, usually if immunity is seriously compromised.
CTdee
06-21-2007, 05:07 PM
you guys are awesome! thanks so much for easing my mind.. I have to tell you this stinks!! I am like the biopsy queen.. I have already had 2 on my breast.. now this.. Oh so much fun! But once again thank you, and I will keep you all posted!
Dee
Dee
k2626
06-21-2007, 05:12 PM
Hi Dee! You should be fine. I was diagnosed with high grade last month after my PAP 4 months prior came back as mild (though it may have actually been high grade at the time). I do not get my LEEP till next month, but the ladies on this board eased my mind that this time gap shouldnt make a difference in my LEEP results.
Keep us posted!
Keep us posted!