what if you have a 2nd abnormal pap? - Cancer: Breast Message Board

hope2663 · 11-04-2003, 05:14 PM

I am going back for a follow up on Monday for severe dysplasia, that I had removed last October. This is my first follow up pap and I am wondering:

1) Will they take a swab like a normal pap smear or will do another colposcopy?

2) What are your chances of dysplasia returning?

3) Do they just perform leep after leep every time they find dysplasia?

Also, I have heard alot of women mention HPV and how it is linked to dysplasia, and I am wondering if your doctor tells you that you have this or if its just common knowledge that the two go together. Even when my doctor told me that I had cervical dysplasia he never mentioned HPV and I never even knew that it exsisted until reading these posts. My doctor said that it was probably due to my smoking. Thank You.

PaNik5717 · 11-04-2003, 07:25 PM

Hi Hope.

If this is your first follow-up pap, it will just be a swab of the cervix and maybe one of the cervical canal. Did you say your LEEP was in October? Usually, they will do a two to four week follow-up that may include a look at the cervix, but no pap. It is also a chance to go over lab results. Then, at three to four months, they will do the first pap. Depending on the results of the pap, they may do another follow-up pap or do a colpo if the first one is abnormal. I had an abnormal follow-up and they gave me the choice to do another pap or go straight to the colpo. I did the pap and then the colpo and the colpo turned out normal!!!

Sorry, no one really seems to know the chances of dysplasia returning. If you still smoke, the chances are higher. If you take excellent are of yourself and minimize stress, the chances should be lower.

Depending on the severity of recurring dysplasia, LEEPs are usually the way to go. My doctor seems to treat each recurrence as a separate instance and chooses LEEP, cryo, laser, or cold cone based on each colp.

Many doctors simply assume that a woman has HPV as soon as she has dysplasia. Many even assume it after the first abnormal pap. The reason they do this is because HPV is very common. So many people have it. And, it is the only thing that is definitely linked to dysplasia. Many people believe though that dysplasia can exist in the absence of HPV and can be caused by the things that cause other cancers, like smoking. Unfortunately, really good research hasn't been done. Thank goodness they have found successful ways to treat us and keep us from getting cancer!

nerak1952 · 11-05-2003, 10:48 AM

:i to have had several abmormal paps when do you start to worry

hope2663 · 11-16-2003, 09:13 PM

My doctor had to reschedule my appt. for December 16th, so I have not yet gone for a second pap. I first found out that I had mild to moderate dysplasia when I was about 6 months preg. so there was nothing that could be done at the time. Then after the baby I went back in for a check up and then a colposcopy and it had gone from mild to severe. I had the leep done and my doctor said he wasnt sure he had removed it all and wanted make sure that it hadn't entered my cervix so I had a cold cone biopsy a couple of weeks later and he said everything was fine and that he had removed it. The end of October, last year, I went in for a check up to make sure I was healing after the leep, which I did. I have not had a pap in over a year. Has anyone else's dr. waited this long to do a check up? Should I see another Dr.? I have been reading that most women go every 4 months for 3 normal pap smears then they they return to their normal schedule of once a year. Any input would be greatly appreciated, thank you.

liz109 · 11-16-2003, 11:36 PM

Wow Hope, that seems like an aweful long time to be waiting for another pap following a cone. I would definately persist that you go get checked! Confront your doctor about it.

As far as the HPV thing, I really don't know. I've never been told I had it, but I've never been told I didn't either.

Keep us posted, and go get your pap!