Doin' the Dance!!!

My CT scan looked good!!!
They are still following the 2 para aortic lymph nodes that were biopsied, but they are smaller again this CT than the one in September. My doctor said that cancer grows without treatment and these nodes are shrinking.
I asked about the pap smear and he said that he quit doing them as a measure for reoccurance. He said the most recent studies show that they are just not helpful in determining reoccurance. Also that the biggest risk of reoccurance is distant sites such as lymph nodes in the upper abdomen, pancreas, liver, lungs, etc. According to him, the most recent research data show about 2% of the time they will catch reoccurance in the vagina with a pap smear. Skewed by "are they swabbing a lesion found on physical exam?" He offered to do a pap smear if it would make me feel more secure. He also said that frequently when you have had radiation, a pap smear will show atypical cells that will require follow up and unnecessary testing. When you do unnecessary testing then you expose patients to overuse of xray and contrast, more anxiety for no reason.... I didn't have him do one. He believes that better monitor is physical exam, reporting vaginal bleeding and CT scans. So, my next scan will be in 4 months rather than 3, for the next year. Physical exams every 3 months, then we will reevaluate. Highest rate of reoccurance is in the first 3 years. I am 15 months out...