PAP identifying uterine cancer-Your opinions please

If I was going in for pelvic

If I was going in for pelvic exams (prior to hysterectomy of course!), I would have also assumed a pap was being done. Otherwise, what would be the point of the exam? Before cancer, I can't ever remember getting a pelvic exam that did not include a pap test. I'm sure there will be many different answers to your question. I hope you hear back soon from your lawyer.

How are you feeling these days?

Love and Hugs,

Cindi

CheeseQueen57 said:

Not good indicator

I realize the PAP test is not a good indicator. But my issue is he didn't do PAP tests when I thought he was doing them. He didn't tell me he wasn't doing them. And there is a chance (although small) there could have been some endometrial cells on a PAP if he would have done one, because the cancer had spread so extensively. 

I'm still having problems with my eyes. I'm seeing a different neurophmologist on Monday. I'm concerned about metastasis even though oncologist and current opthamologist assures me this is not caused by metastasis. Doesn't seem to be improving and it's really depressing. I am seeing a psychologist to try to keep my head in the game. Still some GI effects from internal radiation but seem to be able to control it with Imodium.  Hope it gets better.  Still some speech issues from the stroke, don't know if it totally will come back. Had to close down my private practice cause lost the dietitian working for me- her husband has a brain tumor. I saw this as a sign this was the end of the road for my business.  Otherwise I feel pretty good and am eager to get some semblance of my life back. 

As Chris pointed out,

As Chris pointed out, unfortunately a PAP is not the test for uterine cancer, it is for cervical cancer.  There is no test for uterine or ovarian - but I know you know that.  I have 'legal' conversations for the variety of things I come across in my job and I really think anything would be pushed back on you.  Did you ask for a PAP?  Did you ask for the results?  The doctor's office would be asked if they send out the results of a PAP and they probably say they do.  etc.....

I am glad to hear you are talking someone to deal with everything.  During the course I took over the weekend I heard that one of the things surgeons are doing for hysterectomies is scheduling physical therapy for recovery.  That is a fantastic idea!!!  It gets women MOVING when they want to move the least.  I am starting to think they should run us by a therapist to see 'how we are doing'. 

Hope things start to turn around on all the side effects.  People have no idea all the things we think and deal with.

Well, I for one

had my life saved by a Pap test.  It may not be definitive for endometrial cancer but I am one of the women whose malignant cells were picked up and my life is valuable to me.  I tell every woman I know to continue to demand annual paps.  You never know.  I was diagnosed UPSC 1a over 4 1/2 years ago.  My doc estimated the tumor had been growing about 7 months.  Without that pap, I wouldn't have had an early dx and might not be here to write this today.

My Pap saved me

 

I was post menopausal (62) when I had the well woman exam and Pap. It had been about 3 years since the last one.  I feel I was very lucky because of it.  In fact, my gyn oncologist called the results on my Pap "fortuitous".  I agree.  I had NORMAL endometrial cells on my Pap smear.  The thing is - I should not have had any endometrial cells at all at my age.  That prompted further testing (ultrasound, biopsy, the usual).  While I had only grade 1 endometrial cancer, had that sucker not been caught and waited until I was symptomatic (I never had any symptoms of postmenopausal bleeding until the biopsy) my stage may have been higher and I may have needed more treatment than surgery.  As it was, the gyn oncologist did sample lymph nodes because of the degree of penetration into the uterine wall (in my case 33%) and he just wanted to be sure. 

Had you had a Pap, it may or may not have shown anything, but it sure might have.  And just because it is not a sure thing in detecting uterine cancer, you did have a cervix - which is what Pap smears are designed to catch anyway.  Your medical record should clearly reveal that you did not have a Pap so you did not receive standard of care. 

It will be interesting what an attorney has to say.  Good luck!

Suzanne

Oh, and the screening mammogram that was ordered at that time also detected my breast cancer.  I am a firm believer in regular screenings of any kind!

 

Not me

I had a PAP that came back completely clear and caused me to search all over for about 7 months before coming back to a new gyn exam that picked it up immediately.  I feel you here, it was devastating because I thought I had ruled out any problems there.  

No time for cancer

is right, it's not going to help diagnose most endometrial cancer so shouldnt be relied on.  However, for a handful of us, it's been a lifesaver.  It's just another tool.  For me, my ca125 has never been abnormal.

my pap

I went in because I was experiencing bleeding- my DO did an exam and pap and sent me for ultra sound- I had had one in 2010 and I wanted another- pretty much the only reason I went to see her- she was gone while my results came in and her stand in sent me to a specialist for biopsy and colposcopy- the specialist is the one who told me my pap was irregular.  When my DO came back she called me and I asked why no one from their office had bothered to let me know about the pap- she said let me look- she put it through some computer program and said oh nothing to worry about- we'll recheck it in a year!!!!  Had I relied on that the cancer would have been much worse.  I was fortunate that there was a stand in Dr. that sent me to the specialist because of course by then I was stage 3a, grade 3.   (((Hugs))) and prayers for us all

It's a crap shoot- sort of like much of life

 

Hello, dear sisters! You are and will always be in my hopes and prayers. My stage 3a UPSC was diagnosed by a Pap test- rare for uterine cancer. Cheese, Pap tests usually only diagnosed cervical cancer. Having said that, in my case it picked up the residual blood -my only symptoms were 2 tiny drops of blood on my panties 2 days earlier. DX: uterine adenocarcinoma. I had had a Pap test prior to my Dx by - I now believe- an incredibly incompetent gynecologist who had done a Pap test earlier and biopsy earlier. Damn, I should've realized she was incompetent but like me so many of us TRUST these yahoos. So much for the governing boards who govern these incompetents. Cheese, get your medical records and your insuranice reports that describe exactly what you were billed for. Sue the SOB if the information suggests fraud. As for your eyes, these symptoms may be due to your stroke. Seek the advice of a neurologists and/or opthomalogist.

I wish you the very best,

Cathy

 

SettledSue said:

PAps can pick up endometrial cancer when it has spread to cervix

I had a normal Pap two months before I started having bladder problems which it turned out were caused by my endometrial cancer. Five months after those problems started my cancer was diagnosed when I had a biopsy. The Pap I had at that time did show the cancer, which had spread to my cervix.

My cancer had spread to my

My cancer had spread to my cervix but my PAP didn't pick it up.  I asked why and they said it all depended from what part of the cervix the swab was taken.  My PAP came back normal two weeks before my biopsy showed UPSC, Stage II cancer.  And, I've never had an abnormal CA125 either.

Love,

Eldri