Question:
I just got off the phone w/my gyn, who told me that my colpo showed mild pre-cancerous changes (which is what I thought he would tell me). I have HPV (which I also knew). He told me that my choices are to do nothing and have repeat PAPs to monitor any changes, LEEP, or laser vaporization. Since I have known him for a long time, I asked him what he would advise his wife to do, and he said it would really depend on the anxiety level. I'm sure that many other women on this board have been faced w/this decision, and I would like to hear from you since I am absolutely at a loss for what to do. Basically, I am faced w/doing repeat PAPs or having a procedure (I'll leave it up to the dr to decide b/t laser and LEEP). I don't know that I want to walk around knowing that the are pre-cancerous cells in my cervix. My dr did tell me that 90% of these changes go away in 3 years w/no treatment. Some other non-medical factors that need to be considered are that my twins are having their bar mitzvah in January, and my husband and I are on the brink of a divorce (although we are seeing a marriage counselor to deal w/our "issues"). I feel really alone and in need of some guidance in order to make this decision. Thanks.
Claudia
Answer:
I just got the biopsy report, and it is CIN 1.
Claudia
Answer:
Personally, I would wait and repeat the PAP...you have mild dyspasia and your doctor is not lying...at that stage, it can resolve itself. But, that is just me. You did say these results were given to you after the colpo correct?? So, you have had biopsies and that is what the findings were? I am doing the wait and see after having the cone biopsy and now still having atypical cells left over. It takes a long time (much longer than three months for sure) for mild dysplasia to become cervical cancer...years actually. So, if you can mentally, I say wait and see if your body fights it. Worst case, it progresses to moderate or severe dysplasia and you have your LEEP then. I wish I could have forgone the procedures, but mine was waaay advanced and I didn't have an option. Now that I do, I am going to wait and give myself a break. I am seeing an oncologist who deals with this every day and he feels that waiting is the way to go. We are all different!! I am emotionally OK with the waiting, but it took me a little while to get there...alot of educating myself. If you are not, then get rid of it now and you have no worries for sure. From what I read, it is not that difficult (actually in office with a local - I had general anesthesia as I had the cone biopsy and don't want to do that again), and I will have a LEEP if I need anything else. He told me it is nothing compared to what I had done already. So, do some research...look at the recommended courses of action for mild dysplasia (which is usually repeat paps) and then decide!!
Answer:
It's a tough position to be in and a lot of us have been through it so your definately not alone.
With it just being mild I think the wait and see approach is probably the best choice. You may be lucky and have it go away on it's own. A lot of woman are. When I first started with all of this 6 years ago I left it untreated and opted to monitor it and it went away. Unfortunately for me it came back as severe dysplasia and I had to have treatment.
I think rushing into treatment at this stage will just add to your anxiety level. A lot of doctors will not even bring up getting a procedure done until it is at least at a moderate stage.