Cervical Cancer

[HardNgood]

http://www.hpvinfo.ca/hpvinfo/home.aspx

[Brandye]

SEND IT TO WHOMEVER!!!! JUST SEND IT!!! No credit or anything else. The medical news is full of it.

It will not be available to older women because it must be administered before exposure. Given the ways a woman can be exposed and the fact that more than half of the population are infected, it is not considered effective beyond about 26. That may change with additional tests.

I caught a segment on CNN-International (yes, we have that off the satellite) that Merck was stopping its advertising/informing program because of resistance from religious groups and anti-vaccine groups in the US. I love you Yanks, but I cannot understand how the religious so tie up the government of a nation with separation of state and religion. In the UK, we have a national religion but Canterbury has never interposed itself into health care issues.

The FDA has approved this drug and is encouraging use. They are not the problem.

[ChiliPepper]

Thank you - I forwarded it on.

[sera300]

Thanks Brandye...

[ToWild2Tame]

Hi everyone, I have been a lurker here for quite sometime and decided I had a question after reading about Brandye's mention of the 29 year old mother.

I am 29 year's old and a married mother of three. In 1998, I had my annual pap done and it came back that I had dysplasia.

When I went to my OB/GYN for biopsy, I was also informed that I was pregnant. He advised that I should have an abortion because he was unsure how the treatment for the dysplasia would affect the fetus. I followed his advice and then had the treatment. His form of treatment was awful and as well was extremely painful. I found out later that liquid nitrogen therapy had not been done in eons and that laser is what should have been used.

Anyhow, since that horrible experience, I switched doctors due to a high-risk pregnancy and did all my follow up paps. I have not been for one in about 3 years now because I moved to a different province and have to pay for it out of pocket...but I will get it done.

So question: Is dysplasia also caused by HPV? And are my risks of developing cervical cancer greater because of having dysplasia?

Thank you in advance for any answers given, when reading this thread it really made me take notice.

[sera300]

I had the same dysplasia, and also had the cryo done (laser was not available then) which yes is horrible. What I was told, I was at a higher risks for cervical cancer later in life (I was 16 then). Have had normal paps since. I believe HPV is one possible cause for dyplasia (a medical term for abnormal cells--some can be pre-cancerous). I am curious how Brandye answers this b/c no one knew too much years ago. You have to be certain though, w/your history, not to let your paps slip, they are really important.

[ToWild2Tame]

Thanks for the heads up about the increased risk, it made sense to me but the doc I had was not the most competent. He explained nothing to me. I ended up leaving him for a new GYN when I had Placenta Previa in my last pregnancy. Another condition that he decided I needed to know nothing about. Actually it was he that told me I needed to find another doctor because I was bothering him about my "bleeds". Glad to say, he has since lost his licence to deliver babies.

Anyhow, I would like to hear Brandye's thoughts as well, thanks for responding Sera.

[Brandye]

About 80% of those who show non-specific cervical dysplasia do test positive for HPV. We do not know the cause of dysplasia which likely means that, like cervical cancer, it has many causes reinforcing one another. More than fifty percent of the general population will test positive for HPV of one sort or another. Left untreated most who test positive for dysplasia will progress to cancer. This may take ten years depending upon the level of the dysplasia.

If the dysplasia was successfully treated, you are at no higher risk than any other woman for cancer but you should certainly pay attention to your annual pap smear. Laser treatment has pretty well replaced cryo and is not as unpleasant. Of course, the doctor makes a huge difference. I have a preference for women doctors but then I am terribly biased. There are many, many competent male gyn's. A few of you seem to have crossed paths with a few of my less competent colleagues!

So, the short answer is that you should be getting an annual smear but, after successful treatment for the dysplasia, you are not at higher risk. The fact is we all are at risk!!! And should not ignore the annual smear.

[Brandye]

This is an update for women over 30; younger ones will learn something, too. PAP smears have been a part of the annual gyn exam for a long time. Recently there has been discussion of the anti-viral inoculation to reduce cervical cancer. Now, there is a new test available to be conducted along with the smear.

The pap smear tests for “abnormal cells.” That is, it indicates that the nasty HPVs have already begun their damage. Caught early, treatment is available. The new HPV test indicates the presence of the viruses before any damage has been done. This is recommended for women over 30. The reason that it is not recommended for younger women is that most of us (estimate is 80%) are infected with HPV sometime during our 20s. Most twenty-something women have healthy immune symptoms that fight the virus off in a year or so. Of course, in the meantime we are carriers passing it on to our male friends who, in turn, may share it with another woman. Over 30, the immune system begins to degrade and it may not fight off the HPV. Identifying the presence of the HPV prior to detection by pap smear, makes treatment better, easier and reduces the risk of cervical cancer as we age.

Next appointment, ask your gyn about this.


Cervical cancer risk factors:

Promiscuous sex
Unprotected sex
Promiscuous sex partners
Uncircumcised partners
Smoking
Early age sex
Family history
History of chlamydia or gonorrhea
Lack of regular health care
HPV infection
Many pregnancies

[Nanna]

Thank you so much for the information Brandye, I had heard about the vaccination here at the U but there was not much info on it and now u can hardly hear about anything related to it.
I'll look on how to get the shots, however I just have a few questions. Is there any especial care to take after the shot? I mean, because sometimes as we know shots can have some secondary effects after they have been administered. And i'm the queen of the secondary effects -_-