cervical cancer

[Wahine]

Thank yo for that Grog. I think you covered a lot of issues that needed to be exposed.

[Kitsune06]

+1, Wahine. Thank you, Grog

[btchance]

The guidelines are that if you are in a stable relationship and have had 3 neg Pap smears in a row, and they use a certain type of Pap, then you can go to every 2 years. you still need a pelvic every year to check the ovaries and uterus, but Paps can be every 2 years.

Edited to add: actually, I'm going to have to go back and double check something here. I know you can definately go to every two years in this circumstances, but there may be some other times. I'll get back to you in a bit on this one.

This is all correct. You can also do Paps every 2 years if a certain type of Pap is done (a thin prep), in comparision to the more traditional ones. As xeney pointed out, some doctors are not willing to do the every 2 years, and of course, any time you change partners, you need to be retested.

[btchance]

Just a note on HPV transmission...

BTChance might have better info, but I was told at the time of my colposcopies that I could have been infected at any point during the previous 5-7 years, and that it can take quite a bit of time before symptoms become apparent. It was also noted to me that condoms didn't 100% protect women from getting it.

[RANT]
Without of course being careless, I think we should remain calm about infections like HPV and HSV (herpes). There are SO MANY carriers around that we wouldn't touch anyone if we didn't want to get anything. I realized recently that I have HSV antibodies, which means I have been exposed to the herpes virus. Who knows whether it's the oral (mouth, HSV-1) or genital (HSV-2) form. I come from a tradition where people kiss a lot (within the family, acquaintances etc.) and it's absolutely likely that I have caught it from some family member as a tiny kid. I don't have symptoms (warts), but I might nonetheless be shedding the virus sometimes. Will my partner and I have protected sex for the rest of our life to prevent him from being exposed to the virus? We've discussed it together and the answer is : no. It's not HIV. It's herpes. (I'm aware of the risks if there are active infection sites during childbirth, and we'll take care of that when the day comes, if necessary, of course.)

And in all cases it's not a moral issue. It's a virus.

Moreover, recently, I have heard more and more of the hypothesis according to which some virus actually protect us. Someone posted the example of the link between obesity and some virus: those who have been exposed to said virus (can't remember which) are less likely to be obese than those who haven't. I can easily imagine that our knowledge on viruses is VERY limited. An interesting book was recently published, Survival of the Sickest (http://www.amazon.com/Survival-Sicke...dp/0060889659), I wonder if some of you guys have given it a look. I think it's far from a definitive view, but probably attempting to live in a sterile world hasn't done us only good...
[/RANT]

Grog, you're right about the time frame. HPV takes years (often 10+) to transform cells into cancer, which in itself is a pretty rare event. You're also right that condoms aren't perfect - like with HIV, they decrease the risk, but don't prevent it. And yes, don't freak out if you have HPV. It is extremely, extremely common - and if caught early, the problems it can cause are treatable.

I haven't seen anything about the hypothesis you're talking about. But it is true that there is a huge amount of stuff we don't know about, and we're constantly learning. (I also haven't heard of the book)

[Kitsune06]

Thanks for your posts and advice, too, BTChance.

[Cha Cha]

I'll post on Wednesday how it goes... I'll remember the 'vitamin I' (ibuprofen) beforehand too.

Thanks again - you're the best!

Amy

ps had a great 15 mi hilly ride with the DBF yesterday, only my 4th outing but it went well and he was proud of me. What a sweetie!

[Meaux]

I had a colpo nearly five years ago and my test came back positive for stage 1 dysplasia so then I had to have a cryocautery done. No fun at all. (I wasn't cycling then.) The whole thing was really scary and I was so uninformed about the entire situation. I had to have semi-annual exams and smears for three years and the last one came back abnormal. Lucky for me, I haven't had to go through the whole colpo/cryo again. It's just frustrating for me, because there is still so little information about all of this. In TX, they were talking about having the vaccine be mandatory for students over 11, which I thought was fantastic, however, they'd still have to pay full price (not so fantastic). I just get frustrated with the people who say that giving young girls the vaccine will encourage them to have premarital sex. I'm going to stop now, before I go on the crazy woman rant that I usually go on. I just know that I would like other women/girls to not have to go through the discomfort/pain and stress that I went through when I had all of that happen.

[maillotpois]

Wow - thanks for the good discussion. And good luck Cha Cha!

I had initially dismissed the vaccine as being unnecessary if one has regular paps - but I didn't understand the HPV connection. I'm 40 and not a candidate, but this is certainly all good food for thought for my daughter in a couple of years.

Thanks.

[horsemom]

Wow, I am amazed at how many of us have gone through the same thing. I too had dsyplasic cells show on a pap, underwent two colops and subsequent cauterizations in the late 90s, when I was in my late 20s. I did it all alone, afraid to tell anyone....silly, now that I think about it.

Since then I have had good paps and recently during an exam had the nurse mention the test for HPV. She wasn't sure if my insurance would pay, but I said to do it anyway, and it was negative (ins must have paid, I never saw a bill.) My body and the procedures must have taken care of the virus---after all these years it was a load off my mind.

It is amazing that I never talked about it with anyone. I am so glad you all are here so someone else doesn't have to go through that alone.

Laura

[Cha Cha]

Just wanted to LYK, everything with the colpo went fine, Dr said he didn't see anything at all and there was nothing to be concerned about. There was a little burning with the vinegar, but aside from some very minor discomfort (about like a regular pap), it was painless. Hooray!

Thanks again for the encouraging words, it means a lot!

Amy

[pyxichick]

There's an ongoing clinical study right now on HPV vaccines in older women. I almost got to participate in the trial, but found out later I couldn't because of some medication I'm taking for my colitis. But, I would've definitely participated if I could. They are giving free vaccines and paying $400 to participate in a 2 year study.

[chickwhorips]

i just got my pap back and its abnormal again. i have to go in and have another colposcopy done. though i was told at my age (26) yes for sure get the vaccine.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Well, gotta say here that it creeps me out to no end that the one paharmaceutical company has just invented this vaccine and have NOT tested it longterm on ANYONE yet and now they want to inject a series of it into every little girl in the US by law. No one knows what long term side effects this vaccine might have.
Who stands to gain the most profit from this vaccine?- well the pharmaceutical company that invented it of course- they'll make BILLIONS and BILLIONS of dollars off this patented drug and they are the ONLY ones who paid MILLIONS of dollars of funding to get legislators to try to pass laws requiring it for all little girls. They are the ones funding the entire rushed push to force the sale of millions of these vaccine series to parents all over the country (at something like $350 per series). I suspect more big money is at stake here than for any other newly invented and patented drug in history.
Just my 2 cents, and there's no way I would inject this untested vaccine into my two little girls...I'm glad they're all grown up already and won't be forced by law to be guinea pigs for the big drug companies.

[matagi]

Lisa, whilst I can understand your concern, I feel I must point out that this is not an untested product. It has gone through clinical testing which includes human testing prior to its release on the market.

Basically you have to look at the risks vs benefits ... what are the potential risks and benefits of the vaccine compared to HPV infection with its risk of developing cervical cancer and the associated sequelae?

Oh yes, and just to clarify - the vaccine was not "invented" by this one pharmaceutical company. It was in fact developed in Australia by Professor Ian Frazer, an immunologist, and the technology was licensed to Merck for further development.

[EBD]

I also understand the concern about long-term effects, but if we waited to see if the subjects in clinical trials had any effects 40 years later, there would be an additional 40 year lag before we could take advantage of any new medical technology! That may be the most prudent approach, but it's not realistic.

On the topic of the vaccine only being for young girls - my mom (who works in medical research) tells me that there is some research indicating that the vaccine might help women who are already HPV positive to shed the virus faster. Since I've tested positive, I'm going to ask at my pap next week.