Hi! - Cancer: Cervical & Ovarian Message Board

njlsmom · 04-03-2009, 07:28 PM

Hi everyone I am a newbie around here and on November 12th 2008 I had my pap results come back as Atypical squamous cells, cannot exculde HSIL (ASC-H) so I went on April 1st for my colposcopy and biopsy and the Doc confirmed the lesion but I have two and the one on the bottom was severe so he said this is most def. dysplasia BUT my question is does that make it severe dysplasia? I was a wreck when we left the Docs office so I didn't think of these questions when we were there... and does anyone have any good ideas on how to stop worrying so much about it? I'm a nervous wreck!!! I go back on the 16th to get my results... which feels like 20 years!! ALSO what in the world does the ASC-H mean? I've looked it up but no clear answers! Help please!!! Thank you!!

Amber

Pickle Eyes · 04-03-2009, 09:14 PM

Hi

From what I've read ASC-H means atypical squamous cells which cannot exclude HSIL (high grade squamous intraepithelial lesions). This means the cells are abnormal. They may or may not be HSIL, they aren't sure. This is a precancerous stage, I *think* but I'm not positive. It is still very early, though. There are many treatments that are diagnosist and treatment all rolled into one - for this stage of cervical problems.

The pap is only a screening test. The doctor did the colpo + biopsy to investigate further what the ASC-H is and isn't. This is good that your doctor is investigating further. You can always call and ask if the pathology report is back (prior to the 4/16 appointment). I suggest you call next Wednesday or Thursday. The doctor's office often has the results a few days before they call, and often a week or so before follow up appointments.

I suggest you start compiling a list of questions to ask your doctor. Leave some room to write answers. I also suggest that while you are waiting for the pathology reports that you call and get copies of your previous pap tests. Know what tests have been done previously and what was found. This will help you better understand what has happened, and what your options in the future might be.

Let us know how you are doing, Amber!

njlsmom · 04-04-2009, 05:50 PM

Thank you!! That makes so much more sense than what I was reading online and some of the stuff I found has been very contradictory and confusing so I have been very careful to what I pay attention to!! Also I developed a fever today and of course on a Saturday hahaha!!! But I think I am just going to pop tylenol until Monday and call the Doc because I feel fine otherwise so I dunno if its an infection or if i'm just making myself sick from stressing!! But again thank you!!!
Amber

oldfashiongirl · 04-04-2009, 07:33 PM

My pap came back as ASC-H in November as well. I had my colpo/biopsy in March, which my doctor also said that she saw severe dysplasia, in two places. The biopsies confirmed CIN III (ie severe dysplasia). This past Monday I had a LEEP done on those areas and am currently waiting for the pathology on those tissue samples as well.

ASC-H basically means, as pickle eyes already stated, that there are abnormal cells but the pathologist could not rule out whether some of these cells may represent high-grade changes, ie severe dysplasia or CIN III. I remember reading somewhere the the chance of finding CIN II or III upon biopsy of a ASC-H reading was somewhere around 40%. That is why an ASC-H pap should always be followed by a colposcopy.

But the good news is that ASC paps (ASC-US and ASC-H) have a low prevalence of invasive cancer (approximately 0.1-0.2%) per the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology. So if you do have dyplasia, at least it is being caught prior to becoming a serious issue! If your biopsy does come back as CIN II or III, your doctor will probably recommend a LEEP or cryrotherapy.

I agree that waiting until the 16th to find out sounds unbearable! I also have been an absolute nervous wreck waiting for my LEEP results to come back and really really hope to find out on Monday. I would call your doctors office a week after your initial biopsy was done and ask if the report is in.

With your colposcopy, did the doctor also perform an ECC? This test includes some scraping up inside the cervix to check the cells further up.

njlsmom · 04-05-2009, 04:55 PM

You know honestly I dont know... they had to strech my cervix to see the lesions (thank goodness I have had a vaginal birth!!!) so I'm not sure where they got it from all I remember hearing is "Yes this is def. dysplasia" and after that I dont really remember much I was too busy crying to even ask questions but I have my LONG list ready to go!! LOL