abnormal pap after cryosurgery - Cancer: Breast Message Board

nagould · 03-23-2005, 03:29 PM

I just found this board and was hoping someone had some insight to my situation. I had cryosurgery for mild dysplasia back in October. I had my 3 month follow up pap in February and just got the results from the Dr's office that it has also come back abnormal? All they would do is schedule another follow up for May. I'm confused because I'm not sure if this is an "unsuccessful cryo" situation or maybe my cervix hasn't had enough time to heal? I'm not sure what to think. Any input would be appreciated! Thanks

Georgina27 · 03-23-2005, 08:22 PM

nagould,

I just had cryosurgery done today for mild displasia, the same as you. And like you, I will go for a follow-up pap in 3 months. I actually asked my doctor today what would happen if my follow-up pap came back abnormal. She said that if my 3 month follow-up pap were to come back abnormal, it would mean that the first cryo (the one I had today) had been unsuccessful in removing all of the bad cells and that she would have to perform another cryo to get rid of the remaining bad cells. She said that my displasia is not advanced enough to warrant a LEEP or any other type of more invasive procedure.

Is your follow-up appointment for May going to be another pap or another cryo??? Given the info my doctor gave me today, if iyour May appt. is just supposed to be yet another pap, I would want to call my doctor back and ask her/his reasoning behind this and what her/his "plan of attack" (so to speak) is going to be as far as removing the remaining abnormal cells. Just to get some peace of mind.

I hope this is helpful. Let me know what you think . . . I might just be in the same exact situation as you in 3 months.

nagould · 03-24-2005, 12:09 PM

The nurse who called with my results mentionned that if the next pap scheduled for May comes back abnormal as well, the doctor will probably do another cryo at that time. I asked why they're just not going straight to a second cryo, I'm skeptical about how realistic the May pap will result in come out normal when all of my paps this past year have come back abnormal. She only responded that the doctor wants to give it three more months and "wait and see." I think I read somewhere on line that sometimes a pap after cryo can come back abnormal because the cervix is not done healing, but I'm assuming it's because the first cryo didn't get all of the cells. I guess I'll just have to be patient...it's just so hard because I want this over and done with!

ElenaK · 03-24-2005, 12:40 PM

Maybe a colposcopy would be a better option than a Pap? Paps come back abnormal for all sorts of reasons, sometimes even for perfectly normal reasons such as your period coming up or some healing process/cell repair on the cervix.

I myself am caught in a wait-and-see limbo of abnormal Paps and inconclusive biopsies, and my heart totally goes out to you. The waiting and the insecurity is the worst part.

A kind soul on this board gave me a valuable piece of advice that I would like to pass on: Instead of worrying yourself sick, use the waiting period to take care of yourself. Eat better, take supplements (the folic acid is a "must"), exercise, enjoy life. I have been trying to do all this and forget about my next colpo...

Take care.

PS At least your care providers did not say to you that you have "a future full of colpos to look forward to", which is what I got for wanting this done and over with...

ladivapr00 · 03-24-2005, 05:12 PM

see elena but in my gyn's website says that cryosurgery disadvantage is that if you go through cryo and your next pap comes back abnormal colposcopy in some people will be difficult to evaluate further with colposcopy.