Precancer

Question: I am starting to use Efudex precancer cream. I know my whole face will soon be a mess? Its going to be embarresing to go out in public, as I have to apply it to my whole face. Can I put on makeup just long enough to go out to the store etc?

Answer: To answer your first question; your skin probably wont become a mess. To quote the manufacturers: "The pattern of normal therapeutic response to Efudix follows a sequence of erythema, vesiculation, erosion, ulceration and necrosis followed by epithelialisation, without damaging normal skin. Therefore, the appearance of the lesions may initially be worse prior to resolution." This means that the nasty side effects redness (erythema), formation of blisters (vesiculation) etc. only occur on lessions, i.e. areas of cancer and perhaps precancer as well. If this happens its a case of the skins appearance getting worse before the skin heals itself. The healthy skin may become red for a while too but should calm down. Sometimes when this happens to normal skin it is made worse by sunlight so if your skin starts to get red try to avoid sunlight. Also I know a few patients on it and they haven't had any problems with it. Second question; should you feel you need to put makeup on I would be concerned about the makeup increasing the absorption of effudix, which could lead to side effects, if you want to wear makeup allow at least two to three hours between applying the efudix and applying makeup.

Question: How did it feel having sex for the first time after having laser surgery on ur cervex for precancer cells? its been 7 weeks since my surgery and tonight i am able to have sex again and i am a little nervous. is it painful? does anyone know. also were u cured of the precancer cells ?

Answer: You most likely have the HPV Virus, which is responsible for 99% of all cervical pre-cancers and cancer. You need to use condoms and make sure that you dont pass this virus on. That man could infect the next woman he is with. As far as how it will feel, you should make sure you are healed down there as you dont want to cause damage to your cervix. If you feel any pain, stop. PS--Cervical pre-cancer is 90% curable and you are very lucky to have the cells removed. You must go back every 6 months for 2 years to get check ups, rain, sleet, hail or snow. You must make sure you get "negative" Pap Smears to be sure that cerical cancer will not develop.

Question: I am pregnant and have HPV mild grade one precancer, will my immune system still be able to fight this off? Or will it advance to the next grade?

Answer: If you are pregnant, your immune ysstem will be significantly WEAKENED. If you currently have a HPV-related dysplasia, you will need to see your doctor regularly to make sure it does not escalate. It is common for pregnant women with HPV to experience increased HPV symptoms. For example, if you have genital warts and you are pregnant, it is likely you can have increased wart growth.

Question: Does having precancer on your cervix affect your ability to get pregnant?

Answer: I had severe dysplasia and 2 LEEP procedures and, 3 years later, got pregnant with my son while on the pill so it didn't affect me.

Question: HAD PRECANCER ON CERVIX CAN I STILL HAVE A BABY? I had a surgery about a month ago and i been wanting to have babies i have 2 children alredy but they are all grown now im trying to have a nother one and i think that the cervical cancer is the problem .

Answer: You really should speak with your doctor about this. There are a lot of things that it could be, the reasons you had precancer I mean. We don't know you history so asking us isn't going to help you. A doctor is really who you need to be speaking with, perhaps the one that knows about your precancer! ~~~~~~ I had precancer cells at 17, due to HPV. Had laser surgery, the whole nine yards! I just had my beauitful daughter 4 months ago, However I didn't carry her to term, only 28 weeks. I don't know if that has anything to do with the precancer, but worth looking into!

Question: Can a precancer problem come back? I had a precancer problem with my cervix almost 5 yrs ago. I had the human papaloma virus. I had part of my cervix removed. I was told that the surgery doesn't cure the problem. Does this virus ever come back later on in life after you have had a coloscopy? Part of the cervix removed. I'm curious to know this. Thanks in advance. Please serious answers only. anyone want to help me on this? No answers yet.

Answer: You have to get regular checkups done.

Question: My Pap test came back abnormal but they say its not precancer cells shoudl I be worried? My pap came back abnormal but not precancerous. Should I be concerned? What could this be? HPV virus was negative. I started my period hours after my exam. Could this have effected it?

Answer: it's common for pap's to come back abnormal, one main reason is the ppl reading them usually get paid by the item... they go throught them really quick. if you're worried, tell your doc, and if they think you have a reason to be they will have you come in for another. why are you afraid to ask your doctor about this? do you think it's a dumb question? cause it isn't. it's absolutely your right to ask your doctor questions, and to get a straight clear answer from them. if not, get another doctor.

Question: Precancer Cells... What is my next option? I have had the Leep and Cryo done. Help? I just found out I have sereve precancer cells and need to find out what my options are... they want to do a hysterectomy and I don't want them to.

Answer: It depends on the grade of the precancerous cells and how far the cells have invaded. Cryotherapy is freezing the tissue the target cells are in. You don't freeze the whole organ, just the area you want. I also agree with getting a second opinion if you don't want a hysterectomy.

Question: got diagnoised with precancer cells last year not had any treatment yet?

Answer: If you are worried, make another appointment with the doc to get the problem treated.

Question: I have precancer, what vitamins will help me to prevent me from having cervical cancer.?

Answer: Vitamins have no affect on this.

Question: Should I take action? Pap test results showed higher than normal precancer cells, so it was thought to be HPV? At each ob/gyn visit I assured the doctors that I had never had intercourse, yet they proceeded to perform 2 cryo cotorizations and were going to perform laser surgery when I asked if my treatment would be different if I did or didn't have HPV. My doctor said that if I didn't have HPV then I would just have to have paps 2-3 times a year to keep an eye on the cell levels. I told her again that I had never had sex (hard for her to believe since I am 23 and engaged). They ran the HPV test and it came back negative. I have spent months worrying about my health and future child-bearing, not to mention the pain of the procedures and their cost.What shoud I do now? I am unhappy with the way they handeled my situation, and no one else should have to go through this. How can I stop it from happening again?

Answer: Sorry to hear but simply see a different doctor for a second opinion. You should not wait as you are risking your childbearing capabilities as well as you health. Ask a different doctor, explain the situation and the circumstances to the new doc and see what he/she says. See if he or she agrees with the other doctors prognosis and treatment. There are options but the longer you wait the less the become. Besides, if your present doctor doesn't believe you when you say you haven't had sex, why should you trust them if they do not trust you. It's not like it ultimately matters to him/her if you have had sex or not.

Question: Has anyone had HPV and had precancer cells mild-moderate and had the laser procedure? I had the laser procedure done for pre cancer cells in December and my cervix healed perfectly and I am waiting for my new pap smear results and am very nervous. I was wondering whose first pap smear came out normal again and whose didnt? Any experiences? advice? How long till the pre cancer was cured? i know i wrote this question one hour ago but i got my results. A NORMAL PAP SMEAR! ive never been happier. thanks for the answerers. God Bless

Answer: Yes. I had the laser procedure when I was in my 20's. I had to go in for paps twice a year for 2 years. If the test was normal each time, then I just had a yearly pap like everyone else. All tests were normal. My latest test, in November of this year, is also clear. I'm 49 now. Try not to worry too much. If for some reason the pre-cancer cells were to return, your tests would catch it early. Here's something else that might encourage you not to worry. Every female in my family has had it. From my grandmother, to my mother, sister, and all neices. The only one who died was my youngest neice because she never got checkups. The rest of us have been free of it because we took care of it early, like you're doing.

Question: I now have to have a cone biopsy done to search for more precancer cells .. Can I go without this procedure ? It seems to have issues with childbearing later and I know I already may have issues .... any ideas

Answer: I would discuss all of the options with your gynecologist. If you have precancerous cells, depending on the level, they could easily spread into your other cells and turn into cancer. The biopsy will be able to tell what level the cells have reached. If it comes back that they are a high risk of developing cancer, then doctors suggest removal of the cells...they go in and scrape out all of the cells. One of these procedures is the LEEP (Loop electrosurgical excision procedure) where they use a thin, low-voltage electrified wire loop to cut out abnormal tissue in the cervix. This procedure is one that people can have childbearing issues with. It can cause the cervix to be less strong and have issues staying closed to keep a baby inside. You should really consider all of your options carefully. There is a possibility of cancer, which should obviously be treated prior to bringing any children into this world. Also, there are many advances in health care to where they can do different things to keep a baby in your uterus where it belongs (cerclage, i.e. where they sew up the opening to the cervix). You need to weigh the benefits and the risks carefully before deciding to go without this procedure. I personally have had the LEEP done, but it was after my last child, so no worries of future pregnancy. My best friend had a LEEP done about 8 or 9 years ago. She is also a mother of two, both of which she carried to term with no major complications. There are always risks you will take in life. This one is a risk with your health that you should take seriously. Take care and good luck to you...I know this is a tough decision to make!

Question: Did lasering of the cervex cure u of precancer cells?

Answer: Yes definitely. If you have been told you have pre-cancerous cells, please don't delay. Cervical cancer is the easiest cancer to cure, if treated early. Get to it.

Question: What is the Earliest level of Precancerous cells? There are three levels classified under precancerous. I can't remember what the earliest level is. I know it starts with an A, but I can't remember what it is. It's said to be the best stage to catch the precancer at.

Answer: atypical

Question: I have HPV and precancer cells? I went back to the Dr. and they said that I was too young to get cancer and that they weren't worried but I had an abnormal pap with precancer cells is this true I have alot of history of cancer in my family and I already went to another Dr. and got told the same thing I rather have it removed before its too late and they say I am too young. They refused to do anything Btw I am only 18

Answer: A great deal of women have HPV (~50-75%). Since you are young your obgyn and cytopathologist are betting on your immune system being able to knock out the HPV on its own without intervention. You are never too young to get cancer but the odds are stacked in your favour against you getting it. I am going to assume that based on your age your pap was deemed a LSIL or low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions. This means that on a cellular level your cells displayed characteristics that are associated with the HPV infection. This does not mean you will get cancer it just means that your risks have increased and that your lesion may progress to a higher grade lesion. There is a difference between lesions and outright cancer. Do not get this removed. Any doctor who tells you that you can have this removed is wrong. This is a genetic infection that your body will more than likely remove on its own. If you still have the infection when you are over the age of 30 or experience an increase in grade, such as your LSIL becomes a HSIL (high-grade) you will need to think about options. After an abnormal pap you will be required to return for additional paps every 6 months. After three consecutive normal paps you will return to your usual yearly course. After the first abnormal pap you will have hopefully undergone a colposcopic examination where the physician looked at your cervix to determine whether or not it was a lesion that needed to be excised. If they did not do a biopsy you have nothing to worry over. You should return in 6 months for your repeat pap to allow your doctor to monitor your situation. I can honestly tell you that I very rarely ever see young people progress beyond a LSIL status. If they do there is usually extenuating circumstances involved, such as immune suppression. Please do not fret over this. It is nothing to lose sleep over at this stage.

Question: Precancer and high CEA level? I have a high CEA level of 20.2 I had a EGD and Colonoscope done. The Biopsies said that precancer in the esoughougus and and a pulip from the colonospoce said that it is also precancer. They also did a CT of the stomach and asked for a pelvic ultrasound with several cysts present on the ovaries, however they are small. There are doing a CT of the chest and the brain next week. The CA9 and the other blood tests were normal (the cancer markers) I lost about 25 pounds, and am always tired.. Should I worry?

Answer: There are many factors that may cause a rise in CEA levels. Do you smoke? or vigorous exercise? If your colonoscopy was clear for colon cancer I would not worry.

Question: Can I have precancer if i don't have HPV? My PAP result is ASCUS. I had a colposcopy and the doc said I have precancer caused by HPV. (he confirmed that there are modified cells) Then I had the HPV test and it is negative. Can I have precancer if I don't have HPV? My HPV test screened for 37 HPV types, which are: 6, 11, 16, 18, 26, 31, 33, 35, 39, 40, 42, 45, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 58, 59, 61, 62, 64, 66, 67, 6869, 70, 71, 72, 73(MM9), 81, 82(MM4), 83(MM7), 84(MM8), IS39, CP6108. The result is 'HPV not detected'. Initially the doctor said I need conization, now that i don't have HPV, do I still need conization or just treatment? I have an appointment with him next week.

Answer: Yes you can have pre-cancer or cancer and not have HPV, but I don’t know why your doctor would tell you it was caused by HPV if you don’t have it.

Question: how long does it take for precancer cells in the cervix to become cancer? I had a cervical biopsy in june that showed glandular atypia. my dr. sent me to another dr for a 2nd opinion on how to proceed. (close monitor or cone biopsy) I went to the 2nd dr. on july 1st. I went back to day and he said his PAPs were worse than the first one I had in May and that he discovered precancer cells. My PAPs have been normal ever since I started getting them. they were even normal this year, but my HPV was positive, which promted the biopsy. So, if the cells were abnormal in May, and now this dr is telling me he found precancer, how fast can that become cancer? do they evolve THAT fast?? he was a little surprised at the differences in tests. I have not had sex with anyone in 13 months (he asked me if I had a sexual relationship recently) I am going to call my original dr in the morning and schedule a cone biopsy, but I almost feel like I need to get it done tomorrow?? how fast do precancer cells become cancer?? thanks

Answer: Tarkarri is exactly correct. To give you a ballpark idea, I would say years - - usually. But the first rule of cancers is that they follow no rules. Some premalignant conditions never evolve into cancers. But as Tarkarri says, vigilance is the key. Cervical cancer is highly curable if treated early. Do not ignore this problem. I suspect you will not. That fact that you asked this question says you are a thinking, concerned person. It is not an immediate panic concern that needs attention tomorrow. An appointment for the cone biopsy within a few weeks should be fine. Even if you lived in Canada and had to wait three months, it would still mostly likely be OK. I would not wait years.

Question: Stage II Cervical PreCancer? I recently had a LEEP and it came back that I had Stage II Cervical PreCancer. I assumed that this was merely an afirmation of my CIN3, however, now that I'm home I wish that I had asked the doctor more about this. I am going back in four months to have another Pap and internal scraping and will have to do so for the next year atleast. I tried to look up online more about Stage II Pre Cancer but can only get information on Stage II Cancer. Any information would be much appreciated!

Answer: I've gone through the same LEEP procedure, and I'm pretty sure if they sent you home and just told you to come back in four months for a pap, then it means they found precancerous cells, the LEEP removed them, and the next pap will tell you whether or not the cells have come back. If they come back, I'm not sure what the next step is but your doctor will tell you your options--if they don't come back you're ok for now, just make sure to get regular paps! Good luck! I know how scary that is.