Women's Health Community

Dear S_Child:We are so grieved that you have had to deal with all this! It sounds like your GYN did the appropriate thing in trying simple cautery first, and it is also good that you continued to get PAP smears.

The confusion arises in being told the January colposcopy was normal despite a recent abnormal PAP. Last week you had an endocervical curettage (ECC) where by the cells scraped from inside the cervical canal now showing abnormal cells (probably AGUS-atypical glandular cells--favor neoplasia/pre-cancer). The most likely explanation would be that there are some abnormal cells within the lining of the cervical canal.

This does not mean that you have overt cervical cancer. My best GUESS is that your GYN is referring you because you have had a history of abnormal PAPS needing both cryo and LEEP. You certainly can have your records sent to another GYN oncologist if you can get in sooner. You can also tell the GYN-Onc that you want to be on the waiting list if some one cancels their appointment.

Actually, I would really urge you to make a brief consult appointment with your GYN and ask that your results over the past six months be clearly explained to you. At that time they should be able to address your understandable dismay and nervousness. While we tell women that even overt cervical cancer is a very slow growing lesion, that does not mitigate a woman's feeling "scared and nervous."

In Support,
Jane

Thank you so much for your response. I was very persistent with both offices about why my appt was so late. The problem was that my doctor's office didn't fax the actual report showing the abnormality. Once that was taken care of, the nurse at the gynecologist/oncologist office called back and I now have an appt June 26. I feel much better now; however, I explained my confusion to the nurse. She assured me that this doctor would review all of my file and go over everything with me.

Dear S_Child: Thank goodness for your follow through! We are so glad to hear that you can be seen sooner and get a better idea of your condition. When you do get a more definitive answer would you be so kind to let us know. Through the magic of the internet your experience may help other women searching your exact topic.

In Appreciation,
Jane