Yes, I’ve asked my doctor a couple of times, but he doesn’t give me straight answers, or maybe he doesn’t know himself.
I had a biopsy taken of some cells the other day. A biopsy was also done on them a few months ago. All I’ve been told from the first biopsy is that they were found to be “abnormal”.
From what I understand, the second biopsy was to figure out if they’ve changed or not?
Does “abnormal” mean “pre-cancerous”? Does “abnormal” mean they COULD become “cancerous” but they might not? What exactly does “abnormal” mean?
(by the way, if it matters, they’re at the entrance to my cervix - nothing was found on my last PAP smear about a year ago, but during another procedure they were spotted, and the dr. decided to do the first biopsy - that was in October I believe).
IANAD, but I would think that abnormal means just that… not normal in some way.
I wouldn’t assume they are pre-cancerous unless the doctor suggests it to you. Presumably when they do a pap smear they check for any cells that don’t seem to be what someone would expect to see. If unusual/abnormal cells are identified then it’s up to the doctor (or diagnostian) to figure out what it is… more likely, perform more tests.
It could be nothing serious, and worrying about it now probably won’t help. Keep on top of the doctor until you get a clear answer about what they think is going on. The fact that they want to do a biopsy may or may not mean they suspect cancer, but they want to cover all of the bases just to be sure.
As someone who has looked down the barrel of a microscope, “abnormal” meant cells that were not normal in appearance, but not obviously malignant. Those slides were referred to the pathologist reviewing hematology slides. It’s standard practice to get a second specimen (blood, body fluid, pap smear, etc). If it’s a true malignancy or pre-malignancy, the abnormal cells will be present. If they are absent on the second specimen, then the first may have had cells that were involved in an relatively benign inflammatory process.
From a morphological point of view, abnormal cells will have an altered shape, and often will be larger than normal cells. The nucleus may also be enlarged, and show signs of increased activity. This may have been what the reviewing technologist saw when looking at a stained slide of your cells, and passed the slide on to a pathologist for a final report. The pathologist then sent the report to your doctor, who made a decision based on your physical exam, his clinical impression and the pathologists report.
Qagdop, neither of those terms have been used to describe the cells.
I’m wondering why abnormal cells have to be removed - what’s the harm in leaving them be, especially since the laser removal will cause cervical scarring, which is actually my main concern.
I have abnormal cells myself. I don’t know if your situation is the same as mine.
Not every doctor thinks that they do have to be removed. The fear is that they will one day develop into cancer. Since you can easily see the cells it is safer to remove them now then take the chance that they change and you won’t know until it is too late. My doctor hasn’t removed the cells. We are taking the “wait and see” approach. I do have to get a Pap every six months rather then once a year. In five years there have been no changes, just “abnormal” cells.
If you are in any way uncomfortable with the advice or information you are getting from your doctor you should get a second or even a third opinion. It is your body and you need to be informed of what is going to happen to it.
I had abnormal cells time after time, lots of pain and discomfort. I found out that I had Endometriosis. And had to have a partal hysterectomy at the age of 34. But unfortunately the Endometriosis has spread and is effecting my left ovary among other things, there for I have to take the Depo shot. So far that is keeping it under control but for how long that is the question.
Your doctor certainly owes you a more complete explanation. Don’t settle for less than that. Anything we come up with here is not a lot better than guessing.
Qadgop-my apologies for misspelling your name. Thanks for the advice. I will keep on top (not literally) of my OB/GYN until this gets resolved to my satisfaction.
A few years ago a study was conducted on a large number of women who developed cervical carcinoma. They reviewed the previous Pap smear results of these women as far back as was available. The study showed that, on average, cervical carcinoma in situ (the earliest stage) developed seven years after the first finding of atypical cells. Certain types of atypia are more ominous than others so you need to ask your doctor to be more specific if possible. However, In Conceivable’s wait and see approach with more frequent Paps seems a reasonable plan if you are concerned about cervical scarring. This study did not follow women who had atypia but had not developed cancer.
I seocnd the notion that you should grill your doc more closely. Oftentimes abnormal cells will resolve on their own by the time you have a followup exam. In my case, though, they didn’t; my first abnormal Pap turned out to be cervical cancer. Depends a lot on the type and degree of abnormality.
If you want to educate yourself a bit more, I highly recommend Our Bodies, Ourselves.
I just want to point out that it isn’t my plan. It is my doctor’s plan. I have no idea if it is reasonable in other cases. I have a slight issue that makes the laser surgery or leep procedure more risky in my case anyway. And I have to be really good about getting my Paps every six months. My doctor won’t let me “wait and see” if I don’t make sure I get my bi-yearly Paps.
