Cervical Cancer

[davidjpowell]

Hoping for a bit of advice / words of reassurance (I hope) from the medical folks.

Partner had to have a Colposcopy about 2 years ago. The result was nothing, although the Doctor had said that he would get her back in a few months to make sure. That never happened though for whatever reason.

Partner then became pregnant last year, at about the time the next smear was due. Doctor/Nurse was not keen to do the smear so left it. Ultimately she lost the baby.

She did finally have a recent Smear and it has come back with severe dyskaryosis. She is very worried that because of the time between tests, things could have passed far beyond treatment. Not helped by the dreaded Jade reports in the press it has to be said.

I'm confused after reading up. While I realise that no one can give a prognosis without seeing tests, is this a really aggressive form? Is it really time critical?

I think it's the not knowing that is difficult. She is a half empty, while I am a half full kind of person. However my half is rapidly draining.

Grateful for any advice...

[E21_Ross]

my advice would be see someone asap. and i mean asap.

can't offer any prognosis at all but know enough to say timing can be of the essence. no point at all wasting time looking for general prognosis etc on the net mate.

fingers crossed for the both of you.

[davidjpowell]

She is in for a Colposcopy on Friday. It was not until today that I discovered just how worried she is. Me also now. Take your point on the net, you can prove virtually any point if you look hard enough.

[E21_Ross]

davidjpowell said:

She is in for a Colposcopy on Friday. It was not until today that I discovered just how worried she is. Me also now. Take your point on the net, you can prove virtually any point if you look hard enough.

precisely. glad she's all booked in and hopefully she will be ok. just try and be supportive.

all the best mate

[Lemmonie]

from what i understand this type of cancer is very slow going thats why you only get a test every three years as abnormal cells take years to change into full blown cancer.

I wouldnt worry just yet. Jade didnt have a smear test for years and years hence why the cancer had been allow to grow unnoticed.

I have had stage 3 pre-cancerous cells and the surgery required although unpleasent is not a big deal and if required will be done on friday whilst having the colposcapy as mine was done.

Tell her to wear big knickers in case she ends up needing surgery as like i said they do it there and then and she will be wearing a pad for a few days after (hence the big knickers)

Good luck x

[Mobile Chicane]

Try not to worry. Remember these are pre-cancerous cells which take many years to progress to cancer, and even then it's a tiny percentage which do.

Unfortunately the science can't yet predict which cases will progress to cancer, therefore all ladies with abnormal cells are treated.

It's not that big a deal, chances are they'll do the colposcopy and if this confirms the results of the smear, shave away the affected cells there and then via a procedure called LLETZ. The sample will then be analysed, and if the margins are clear, no further treatment will be necessary.

This is an area where NHS approaches to treatment are very conservative. She won't be whisked away for a hysterectomy, if that's what she's worried about, since there are many levels of treatment which will be undertaken before that is an option.

Good luck for tomorrow. Take her out to dinner as a reward for being a brave girl.

[becksW]

Any abnormal results should mean annual ck ups not every 3-5 yrs which is the standard routine.

Jade had tx in her early 20's but once that was sorted she failed to continue to have the checks she needed and that's why she succumbed.

[Mrs Trackside]

Mobile Chicane said:

Try not to worry. Remember these are pre-cancerous cells which take many years to progress to cancer, and even then it's a tiny percentage which do.

Unfortunately the science can't yet predict which cases will progress to cancer, therefore all ladies with abnormal cells are treated.

It's not that big a deal, chances are they'll do the colposcopy and if this confirms the results of the smear, shave away the affected cells there and then via a procedure called LLETZ. The sample will then be analysed, and if the margins are clear, no further treatment will be necessary.

This is an area where NHS approaches to treatment are very conservative. She won't be whisked away for a hysterectomy, if that's what she's worried about, since there are many levels of treatment which will be undertaken before that is an option.

Good luck for tomorrow. Take her out to dinner as a reward for being a brave girl.

I echo this. I had to look up what dyskaryosis meant. From the info I found here it looks like it's the same as dysplasia, which I've had.

I had a colposcopy following an abnormal smear six years ago (I had other symptoms of something being wrong as well). I was found to have severe dysplasia on the WHOLE surface of my cervix. Whether the term "severe" was used to describe the extent of the abnormal cells or the stage they had reached, I don't know. I had a cone biopsy done during the colposcopy where they took five or six snippings from my cervix and found the cell changes were also below the surface. I can't remember the time scales, but I know I was in hospital a very short time later. I was put under general anaesthetic (sp?) and the top layer of my cervix was removed with what was described to me as a heated cheese wire. I came out of hospital the same day and had a week off work. I had period like pains for a couple of days and very very mild bleeding.

A few weeks later, I was told they'd got everything. With no other action necessary, I was put onto annual smears for the next three years, and have just had had my first smear since being on 3 year smears, which I was dreading the results of. It came back normal

[davidjpowell]

Many thanks for the posts. Was out all day yesterday so not able to respond.

Just back now. She does require treatment, but they are planning to do it over a General Anesthetic as quite a large area is affected.

Hopefully all will be ok. Next two weeks I gather will be interesting while we wait for the results.

Regards

David

[Mobile Chicane]

Re 'the next two weeks', try and keep her occupied and her mind off the subject. Also keep her away from the internet: there's an awful lot of duff information / purveyors of quack remedies out there.

You can drive yourself mad trawling the web into the small hours, but ultimately there's no way you can second guess what the docs are going to say to you when the results are back. Release yourself into their care: this is an area where the NHS excels, and from what you've said it sounds as though she's having the best possible care.

As a final point, plan a treat for the two of you for when it's all over. Fingers crossed all will be well.

[davidjpowell]

An update to this thread.

The result was all clear. We are quite pleased, but the consultant has said in his letter that he is surprised and wants to re-test.

Reading between the lines he was pretty certain that something was amiss, so it's difficult to take it as good news at this stage.

[essexplumber]

davidjpowell said:

An update to this thread.

The result was all clear. We are quite pleased, but the consultant has said in his letter that he is surprised and wants to re-test.

Reading between the lines he was pretty certain that something was amiss, so it's difficult to take it as good news at this stage.

Good news mate.

[arguti]

consultant is surprised because previous test flagged something and the latest colposcopy did not- raising the possibility that the affected area was not properly visualised or biopsied at this last time.

That said, if it was that easily "missed"it could not have been that large an area but this is usually picked up by the stains they use that "take up" the abnormal cells.

All in all, sounds all fine but consultant is just being cautious and will probably have another look within the next 12 months.

This whole episode highlights what is happening across the NHS in that you as the patient have to keep up the pressure on the professionals - the whole booking and referral system is riddled with errors. - when I discharge patients with complex problems from the A&E ward, I write letters to the GP there and then and sit with the patient going through the letter telling them exactly how long to wait before lighting a wee fire under the GP's ass.

This is not because the GPs are not up to speed or slack, they are massively overburdened with paperwork in the command and control target-driven culture which keeps them from spending more time with patients - my job is to educate and get the patient to ensure that the job is done. the alternative does not bear thinking about. Rant over.

[davidjpowell]

arguti said:

consultant is surprised because previous test flagged something and the latest colposcopy did not- raising the possibility that the affected area was not properly visualised or biopsied at this last time.

That said, if it was that easily "missed"it could not have been that large an area but this is usually picked up by the stains they use that "take up" the abnormal cells.

All in all, sounds all fine but consultant is just being cautious and will probably have another look within the next 12 months.

This whole episode highlights what is happening across the NHS in that you as the patient have to keep up the pressure on the professionals - the whole booking and referral system is riddled with errors. - when I discharge patients with complex problems from the A&E ward, I write letters to the GP there and then and sit with the patient going through the letter telling them exactly how long to wait before lighting a wee fire under the GP's ass.

This is not because the GPs are not up to speed or slack, they are massively overburdened with paperwork in the command and control target-driven culture which keeps them from spending more time with patients - my job is to educate and get the patient to ensure that the job is done. the alternative does not bear thinking about. Rant over.

Consultant did see something when doing his examination and fully expected to be doing some treatment. I assume that is why he was surprised. She is back at the end of this week, although is not sure for what at this stage.

Edited by davidjpowell on Sunday 18th April 10:03

[arguti]

I am confused, has she already had the general anaesthetic and what I presume was an excision biopsy and the results are "clear" despite him treating an area which again, presumably stained up as abnormal?

What treatment did he do, if he did an excision biopsy, then there is not a lot left to test.

If he only did a cone biopsy, then that's different. either way it sounds like what he saw and the normal pathology results are at odds which is why he presumably wants to retest.

so what was actually done?

[davidjpowell]

colposcopy and he tok various bits of her cervix out for testing under a local anesthetic.

I think he did contemplate treating there and then, but decided to wait for the results of the bits that he took. The technical term that he used was that it would be a very bloody affair.