What Do I Expect? - Cancer: Breast Message Board

JessicaB · 11-06-2003, 09:28 PM

Hi everyone,

I have been worrying over an upcoming colposcopy and biopsy that was scheduled after an abnormal pap smear in late August. The doctors tell me not to worry too much, but I can't really think of anything else.

I had originally gone in to the doctors office because of a heavy discharge, which was becoming unbearable. A few months before that I had started having sharp abdominal pains, which was thought to be an Appendicitis, but turned out not to be after the appendix was removed. To this day I still have the sharp pains hit here and there. During my last pregnancy, I noticed a couple of tiny white bumps in the genital area, but did not really think anything of them because they were so small and not really prominent. However my OB/GYN said they looked like warts, and should just go away on their own after the pregnancy. The bumps went away on their own, and nothing was ever done to follow up. That was three years ago.

I am wondering if anyone has noticed "symptoms" of cervical cancer, and if anyone knows if three years after finding warts, even tiny ones, is long enough for HPV to have actually caused cervical cancer? When they removed my appendix, they found a small carcinoid tumor. Would that make me any more likely to have Cervical cancer?

I just would like to know what to expect...

Jess

PaNik5717 · 11-07-2003, 08:43 AM

Hi Jessica,

As always, it is sad to have another member of the group, but so very nice to have you. Like you wrote on another post, certain strains of HPV cause warts and different ones cause cervical dysplasia. There is a theory that there is one strain that causes both genital warts and cervical dysplasia, but I don't think this is the prevailing view. Sadly, HPV is so common and so difficult to protect against, that it is very possible to have more than one strain. And, I would imagine that the same kinds of stressors that cause one to act up, things that weaken the immune system, probably cause all of them to act up.

You had the abnormal pap in August when you had that discharge? Did you have a follow-up pap? Has the discharge been corrected? Do you know exactly what the abnormal results of the pap were? I know, a lot of questions, but it would help to have the answers. A lot of things can cause a pap smear to look abnormal. Things like infections or being on your period can cause the sample to look suspicious. In addition, when HPV starts to act up, your own immune system may kick in right away and create healthy cells again. For all of these reasons, the first abnormal pap is usually followed with another pap in about three months. Then, you don't have to have the nasty colposcopy done.

Most of us have no symptoms at all of our dysplasia which is not cancer. Hey, have you been getting regular paps since the birth of your baby? You ask about how quickly HPV can progress to cancer. They say it takes several years - 5 to 7, I think - but it can go faster. If you have had normal paps between then and now, you may have dysplasia, but it is very unlikely that you have cancer. Even if you didn't get paps in that time, you are probably still safe. Those warts were probably another strain if they even were warts. You may not even have one of the high risk strains. Maybe your discharge caused an abnormal pap.

It will not help you to worry excessively about this. That will only make things worse. Spend some extra time pampering yourself. Do some extra special things with your three year old. Start getting into the holiday spirit early. Do anything you can to relax. And make sure you are getting a good multivitamin and cut back on your smoking if you do smoke. Find something new to obsess about. This month, I am obsessing about baking and about making beaded ornaments for holiday crafts fairs.

When is your appointment? Make sure to write down a list of all of the questions you ask here and ask your doctor the same things. Unfortunately, though, this is very routine for them and they sometimes forget what a big deal it is for us.