Cryosurgery - Cancer: Breast Message Board

bellarose · 03-15-2005, 09:32 AM

Hi, I'm new here. Last month my pap came back abnormal and 2 weeks ago I had a colposcopy done. My doctor put a stat on the results and it came back as Stage 1 cervical cancer. I had Cryosurgery last Weds. and 90% of my cervix was frozen. I was told that this will "need" to be repeated in 8 weeks because he anticipates the cancerous cells growing back. I've gone thru a variety of emotions and I'm pretty calm at this point. I'm really just wanting to educate myself more. I'm wondering what exactly to ask my doc so that I really understand what is happening. I feel like a lot of what I read is going over my head or that I'm not absorbing it all. Also, my period started today and it's significantly worse than usual, is that normal? I do realize that this is fairly easy to treat so I'm lucky. I'm 34 and have 3 kids so fertility isn't a concern any more either. Another small blessing! Any advice is really appreciated.

Ivana · 03-15-2005, 09:43 AM

I'm a little confused. If you have stage 1 cervical cancer cryosurgery is not the appropriate treatment. Cryosurgery is used on low-grade PREcancerous lesions - CIN 1. Stage 1 cervical cancer is treated with a cold knife cone biopsy or hysterectomy. Do you know why your doctor opted for cryosurgery??

bellarose · 03-15-2005, 09:46 AM

No! He mentioned a cone biopsy or hysterectomy being the next step if the cryo failed. I thought this was a typical first step and if the cells immediately returned then it would be on to another type of treatment.

Ivana · 03-15-2005, 09:50 AM

I really don't see why he would even attempt cryosurgery as it is well documented that it is not the appropriate treatment. I strongly suggest you get another opinion ASAP. Stage 1 cervical cancer can be easily treated with a cone biopsy or hysterectomy, especially if fertility is no longer a concern. I truly believe he is taking a very conservative approach. Please get it checked out by another gynecologist or even better a gynecological oncologist.

The reason cryosurgery doesn't work is because it can only freeze the surface of the cervix...it does not freeze in great depth...that is why it is used mainly on low-grade lesions. Cervical cancer often reaches deeper into the cervical connective tissue and cancerous cells cannot always be reached by this method. That is why excision is recommended.

bellarose · 03-15-2005, 10:03 AM

Thank you so much! I was really confused by him simply stating, "You will need more cryo in May.". i thought, how does he know and if he is that certain then shouldn't we be doing something else now! It seemed like if he counted on it all growing right back just as bad then it was just stalling for time. It also seemed like if most of my cervix needed to be frozen (he showed me it in a hand mirror afterwards) then that is an awful lot of bad tissue and cells to anticipate coming back. He told me that for Stage 0 or Stage 1 cryo often worked but it was likely to need repeating. On the one hand, I have 2 toddlers at home and major surgery would be rough right now, on the other hand if it's inevitable anyway...Why take chances? These are exactly the thoughts that have raced thru my head for the last few days. Thanks for validating that I'm not concerned over nothing here.