Cervical Cancer and VAIN III

glo55

Hi everyone..just a brief history...in 2000 I had cervical cancer, I had a radical hysterectomy. Normal paps until 2007when I was diagnosed with dysplasia-VAIN 3 of my vagina. I had laser surgery to correct it.
After that, I had normal paps.
In May 2008, I had abnormal pap...atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance.
Aug 08-normal, Dec 08-abnormal (atypical again).
March 09-normal, October 09-normal.
April 10, 2010-abnormal. This time my report says...epthelial cell abnormality. And it also states the same atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASC-US) Each time I am tested for HPV & it has always been negative. The doctor isn't concerned because my HPV is negative. but I am very nervous because in 2007, I had the VAIN 3.
I read where vaginal cancer can appear in women who had cervical cancer. Does anyone think I should panic over this?
Thanks so much for your input, I really appreciate any advice you can give me.

beckyracn

glo,
I think you have every
glo,
I think you have every right to be concerned given your history, but I don't think I'd panic just yet. Ask lots of questions! Second opinions if you don't feel comfortable. I know this can get very confusing also, and I never seem to get the same answer from any of my docs. Recently I requested copies of everything from my docs and hospital records...this was quite an eye opener. I now have ammunition to approach my docs and ask, "Why?" On at least three of my abd/pelvic CT's, the radiologist has reported that I've had a hysterectomy...NOT!
I was diagnosed with IVA cervical and have remained in remission since Aug. '08. My paps always come back abnormal due to radiation changes, but this last one came back with dysplasia (HPV 16). Now it's a wait and see what happens game. Am I concerned? Oh yeah! Will I let it ruin what quality of life I've worked so hard to get back? NOT!
One day at a time!!

fitrn

I have a question for
I have a question for cervical ca survivors. I have not been diagnosed. I recently changed jobs at the same time I experienced the symptoms that I'll describe to you. I've had a CT, U/S and bloodwork but cannot see an oncologist until July. Could you tell me if your symptoms were similar. I've had pelvic pain for 4 months now. The aching is in my groin and upper thighs. The CT showed multiple inflamed lymph nodes to my right and left pelvis. I have right sided hip and right lower back pain and occasional spotting. My WBC is elevated and has been for a couple months. I get the night sweats a few times a week and am just run down all the time. Sometimes it takes everything I've got in me just to get out of bed in the morning. I do not have an infection that they can find. Any further testing, (pap smear, biopsy) will have to wait until my new insurance starts in a month and a half. Were your symptoms in any way similar? I'm a registered nurse and this is one of the few diagnoses that make sense. Any input would help. Thanks.

beckyracn

fitrn said:

I have a question for
I have a question for cervical ca survivors. I have not been diagnosed. I recently changed jobs at the same time I experienced the symptoms that I'll describe to you. I've had a CT, U/S and bloodwork but cannot see an oncologist until July. Could you tell me if your symptoms were similar. I've had pelvic pain for 4 months now. The aching is in my groin and upper thighs. The CT showed multiple inflamed lymph nodes to my right and left pelvis. I have right sided hip and right lower back pain and occasional spotting. My WBC is elevated and has been for a couple months. I get the night sweats a few times a week and am just run down all the time. Sometimes it takes everything I've got in me just to get out of bed in the morning. I do not have an infection that they can find. Any further testing, (pap smear, biopsy) will have to wait until my new insurance starts in a month and a half. Were your symptoms in any way similar? I'm a registered nurse and this is one of the few diagnoses that make sense. Any input would help. Thanks.

fitrn,
I am also an rn and
fitrn,
I am also an rn and never suspected my symptoms were cancer related. I was two years postmenopausal and started having occassional spotting (not unusual) and pelvic pain with intercourse and massive blood clots. I had been feeling run down for quite a while, but attributed it to working 12 hour days on a surgical floor; plus fibromyalgia. I had my pap yearly and had not had a bad one, but was due...so I mad an appt. It was quite a shock when my GP went to due the pap and said, "Oh ****!". From there things moved rapidly. This particular cancer is supposed to be slow growing...they staged me as IIB the following week. Off to a surgical oncologist for rad. hyster. Came out of surgery with everything intact and a diagnosis of IVA. They stated that my tumor growth/mets was very unusual...it's not a fast growing cancer.
You can at least get yourself a pap, to settle your nerves, within your budget by calling your nearest Planned Parenthood. They charge on a sliding scale.
I wish you luck in the upcoming days and hope that you don't become a member of this select board!

glo55

fitrn said:

I have a question for
I have a question for cervical ca survivors. I have not been diagnosed. I recently changed jobs at the same time I experienced the symptoms that I'll describe to you. I've had a CT, U/S and bloodwork but cannot see an oncologist until July. Could you tell me if your symptoms were similar. I've had pelvic pain for 4 months now. The aching is in my groin and upper thighs. The CT showed multiple inflamed lymph nodes to my right and left pelvis. I have right sided hip and right lower back pain and occasional spotting. My WBC is elevated and has been for a couple months. I get the night sweats a few times a week and am just run down all the time. Sometimes it takes everything I've got in me just to get out of bed in the morning. I do not have an infection that they can find. Any further testing, (pap smear, biopsy) will have to wait until my new insurance starts in a month and a half. Were your symptoms in any way similar? I'm a registered nurse and this is one of the few diagnoses that make sense. Any input would help. Thanks.

fitrn, my only symptom of
fitrn, my only symptom of cervical cancer was heavy bleeding and very bad anxiety problems.
I went to several different types of doctors because everyone blamed it on menopause, and I had a feeling it was something else. All my bloodwork came back normal. The way mine was found...I went to a menopause specialiast and she did a pap. In the back of my cervix was a small polyp that she thought looked suspicious. That is where the cancer was found, in that polyp. I had a radical hysterectomy. I didn't need any chemo or radiation. I was stage 2B.
Hope this helps. Sorry I haven't checked this board in awhile, I will check more often to see if you have any other questions for me. Take care.

glo55

beckyracn said:

glo,
I think you have every
glo,
I think you have every right to be concerned given your history, but I don't think I'd panic just yet. Ask lots of questions! Second opinions if you don't feel comfortable. I know this can get very confusing also, and I never seem to get the same answer from any of my docs. Recently I requested copies of everything from my docs and hospital records...this was quite an eye opener. I now have ammunition to approach my docs and ask, "Why?" On at least three of my abd/pelvic CT's, the radiologist has reported that I've had a hysterectomy...NOT!
I was diagnosed with IVA cervical and have remained in remission since Aug. '08. My paps always come back abnormal due to radiation changes, but this last one came back with dysplasia (HPV 16). Now it's a wait and see what happens game. Am I concerned? Oh yeah! Will I let it ruin what quality of life I've worked so hard to get back? NOT!
One day at a time!!

update on me
my report came back and i tested positive for hpv. I was so shcoked, because it has always been negative. I'm 55 yrs old & not at all at the age for a std. I went in for a colposcopy & she saw a suspicous area that she biopsied. It came back 'mild dysplasia'. She said these usually go back to normal & wants me to go back in 6 months for another pap. I am so nervous about waiting this long. I have been reading books & found out it is common to do the 'wait and see' for mild dysplasia.