Possible Cervical Cancer

Im 22 years old, have had two abnormal pap tests as well as a biopsey that i havn't received results for yet. When my doctor was performing the biopsey he looked concerned and said there are definately some abnormalities there. I still have another two weeks to wait for results. Im scard out of my mind and have probably considered every snerio possible. I watched my mom die of cancer a few years ago so this is something I have a very hard time with. I am generally up to date with my pap smears, i think this time i was a little late being that i waited a year and three months in between my last pap when i generally go yearly. Is that enough time to develop cervacal cancer or is it likely going to be abnormal cells? this past year i was also getting ultra sounds done for an ovarian cyst as well as blood and pee tests for normal check ups.. does anyone know if those tests would have detected cancer if in fact i did have it? if anyone has any information for me that would be much appreciated.

Comments

  • funbeadgirl
    funbeadgirl Member Posts: 181 Member
    waiting for results...
    Dear Jessica22,
    I am sorry that you are having to go through this waiting period for your results, I have been down that road myself. And I am most sad that you have lost your Mom to this terrible disease.
    Generally doctors get the report back before 2 weeks, do you have another appointment in 2 weeks? It might be that they will give you results then, however if you are very concerned about this I say call the doctor's office and tell them you are concerned.They should at least be able to tell you that your blood and urine tests were normal, those tests do not tell you if you have cancer, only a biopsy would be able to tell you that. Many women have an abnormal Pap from time to time, it does not automatically mean cancer, it could be an infection or some irritation.Waiting 3 months longer to have your annual exam would not put you at a higher risk for cancer either,and if cancer did grow in that 3 months, it would be at a very early stage. The most important thing is that you go every year and stay on top of any changes you notice in your body.
    I did not have cervical cancer, I had a very rare vulvar cancer, I ignored warning sign for 8 months, but I have made in through surgery and radiation.
    I will be thinking of you and I hope you will hear a good report. Please let me know how you are doing.

    Sue
  • Hollynn22
    Hollynn22 Member Posts: 15
    Don't worry
    Jessica22
    I had the same feeling about 5 years ago when my doctor called me back to her office and told me that I have an abnormal pap test. She refered me to Harborview hospital for a biopsy and It came back that I got abnormal cells but for some reason they did not positive it is cancer??? They told me that it is low risk to be a cancer and I need to wait 6 months for them to make an other biopsy to make sure if there is a cancer because normally abnormal cells, not cancer, will be back normal after a while. You know what my second biopsy showing that the abnormal cells to be back normal and I don't need to be worry about cancer but I decided that I have my uterine removed anyway, this is an other problem, just in case someday it turns out there are some cancer cells there.
    Just don't worry too much for now and wait for the result. You are still too young to have this and who knows like me the test will turn out negative...Good luck on the biopy.

    Hollynn22 :-)
  • Shiba
    Shiba Member Posts: 2
    cervical cancer question answers for jessica22
    I actually don't remember.When i was your age I had abnormal paps. Then froze it the first time. Then when I was 34 they electrically tried to cut area off. (its called a loop). Then it came out abnormal again and they told me they were sorry they didnt get it all. Then they told me to keep getting it checked out because it wasnt big enough to remove yet. Then strangely it came out alright and they said maybe the body healed itself. Then the next time it was abnormal again and they told me to come in and I need a biopsy. Then one month later they called me on the phone and told me I had cancer at age 37. Then I had a cone biopsy surgery where they cut off 3/4 of my cervix to see if there was lymphatic invasion and what type of cancer grade it was. Now I'm getting paps after cancer treatments (chemo/rad) where they call me and tell me cancer free pap test results. it's been a year after treatments and it takes 1 to 2 years for cancer to reappear if its not all gone. There is a 0 stage, stage 1, stage 2, stage 3 and stage 4. Stage 0 is where the cancer is just on surface of cervix. Stage 1 is the cancer is localized to just the cervix but deeper in cervix. Stage 2 is when it spreads to vagina or uterus. Stage 4 is considered no treatment but treatments to make life less painful till you pass away. Mine was Stage 1 with cancer close to lymph ducts. They treated aggressively like a stage 2 and 3. They gave me a survival rate of 92% and another doctor said 85%. When I was your age I had a different HPV strain then I did when I got the cancer I believe. I dont know how many hpv strains I actually have. One important piece of advice.... don't smoke... it increases your chances by 2x... which is 200% I think. i stopped for a year and a half and started again.. and I know I need to stop. Hope I answered some things for you.
  • bunnie1
    bunnie1 Member Posts: 21
    Shiba said:

    cervical cancer question answers for jessica22
    I actually don't remember.When i was your age I had abnormal paps. Then froze it the first time. Then when I was 34 they electrically tried to cut area off. (its called a loop). Then it came out abnormal again and they told me they were sorry they didnt get it all. Then they told me to keep getting it checked out because it wasnt big enough to remove yet. Then strangely it came out alright and they said maybe the body healed itself. Then the next time it was abnormal again and they told me to come in and I need a biopsy. Then one month later they called me on the phone and told me I had cancer at age 37. Then I had a cone biopsy surgery where they cut off 3/4 of my cervix to see if there was lymphatic invasion and what type of cancer grade it was. Now I'm getting paps after cancer treatments (chemo/rad) where they call me and tell me cancer free pap test results. it's been a year after treatments and it takes 1 to 2 years for cancer to reappear if its not all gone. There is a 0 stage, stage 1, stage 2, stage 3 and stage 4. Stage 0 is where the cancer is just on surface of cervix. Stage 1 is the cancer is localized to just the cervix but deeper in cervix. Stage 2 is when it spreads to vagina or uterus. Stage 4 is considered no treatment but treatments to make life less painful till you pass away. Mine was Stage 1 with cancer close to lymph ducts. They treated aggressively like a stage 2 and 3. They gave me a survival rate of 92% and another doctor said 85%. When I was your age I had a different HPV strain then I did when I got the cancer I believe. I dont know how many hpv strains I actually have. One important piece of advice.... don't smoke... it increases your chances by 2x... which is 200% I think. i stopped for a year and a half and started again.. and I know I need to stop. Hope I answered some things for you.

    Hi, I know it's hard to wait for results for any test, I've been there. Stay positive and your results will be good news. I'm sorry about your mother I hope you have someone to talk to. Don't blame yourself, you could get a pap every year and that doesn't guarantee you won't get cancer, it just helps to catch it at an early stage and one doesn't needs all kinds of treatments. I don't know where Shiba got her information about the stages of cancer, but stage 4 doesn't mean all hope is gone and doctors can't save you. I was diagnosed with cervical cancer last year May 08.(stage 4) I had surgery,chemo and radiation and now I'm in remission. My last treatment was in Oct.08 and with the grace of GOD I'm here and doing well. Also she mentioned after 2 years if it doesn't come back it's gone. Well, not true I read many stories where people have a recurrence after being cancer free for 5 or 7 years later. The truth is that once you get cancer there's a possibility that it could come back anytime, so if you beat it then you have to take care of yourself and visit your doctor more often. Take care and everything will be okay..
  • bunnie1
    bunnie1 Member Posts: 21
    Shiba said:

    cervical cancer question answers for jessica22
    I actually don't remember.When i was your age I had abnormal paps. Then froze it the first time. Then when I was 34 they electrically tried to cut area off. (its called a loop). Then it came out abnormal again and they told me they were sorry they didnt get it all. Then they told me to keep getting it checked out because it wasnt big enough to remove yet. Then strangely it came out alright and they said maybe the body healed itself. Then the next time it was abnormal again and they told me to come in and I need a biopsy. Then one month later they called me on the phone and told me I had cancer at age 37. Then I had a cone biopsy surgery where they cut off 3/4 of my cervix to see if there was lymphatic invasion and what type of cancer grade it was. Now I'm getting paps after cancer treatments (chemo/rad) where they call me and tell me cancer free pap test results. it's been a year after treatments and it takes 1 to 2 years for cancer to reappear if its not all gone. There is a 0 stage, stage 1, stage 2, stage 3 and stage 4. Stage 0 is where the cancer is just on surface of cervix. Stage 1 is the cancer is localized to just the cervix but deeper in cervix. Stage 2 is when it spreads to vagina or uterus. Stage 4 is considered no treatment but treatments to make life less painful till you pass away. Mine was Stage 1 with cancer close to lymph ducts. They treated aggressively like a stage 2 and 3. They gave me a survival rate of 92% and another doctor said 85%. When I was your age I had a different HPV strain then I did when I got the cancer I believe. I dont know how many hpv strains I actually have. One important piece of advice.... don't smoke... it increases your chances by 2x... which is 200% I think. i stopped for a year and a half and started again.. and I know I need to stop. Hope I answered some things for you.

    Hi, I know it's hard to wait for results for any test, I've been there. Stay positive and your results will be good news. I'm sorry about your mother I hope you have someone to talk to. Don't blame yourself, you could get a pap every year and that doesn't guarantee you won't get cancer, it just helps to catch it at an early stage and one doesn't needs all kinds of treatments. I don't know where Shiba got her information about the stages of cancer, but stage 4 doesn't mean all hope is gone and doctors can't save you. I was diagnosed with cervical cancer last year May 08.(stage 4) I had surgery,chemo and radiation and now I'm in remission. My last treatment was in Oct.08 and with the grace of GOD I'm here and doing well. Also she mentioned after 2 years if it doesn't come back it's gone. Well, not true I read many stories where people have a recurrence after being cancer free for 5 or 7 years later. The truth is that once you get cancer there's a possibility that it could come back anytime, so if you beat it then you have to take care of yourself and visit your doctor more often. Take care and everything will be okay..
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