Cervical Cancer

[Aksannyi]

Ugh, I feel for your wife. I had an abnormal pap once, it was nerve wracking waiting for the results to come back. All this while I was pregnant, too. :/

I don't know much about cervical cancer at all, but if you have to worry about fertility options, I do wish you the best. I have looked into surrogacy before (can't because I don't have medical insurance, at least not at the moment) so while I know lolinternetstrangers, if it comes to that, I'd seriously consider it. Obviously hoping for your sake that it doesn't come to that.

Also, (lolgod), prayers sent you way that it was caught early enough for treatment and a full recovery.

[Sqwunk]

Ah, well I don't know much about the homeopathic stuff other than that the mind is a very powerful tool, and just thinking what you're doing is helping, can actually help, even if the actual act is worthless. Sort of the placebo effect, which has proven to work in some cases where the patient even knew they were taking a placebo.

[aduidarnenye]

I had one of those abnormal pap smears just before I got married at the age of 33. I went back for a second test and it came back normal. So don't panic first thing!

[solanis]

Ugh, I feel for your wife. I had an abnormal pap once, it was nerve wracking waiting for the results to come back. All this while I was pregnant, too. :/

I don't know much about cervical cancer at all, but if you have to worry about fertility options, I do wish you the best. I have looked into surrogacy before (can't because I don't have medical insurance, at least not at the moment) so while I know lolinternetstrangers, if it comes to that, I'd seriously consider it. Obviously hoping for your sake that it doesn't come to that.

Also, (lolgod), prayers sent you way that it was caught early enough for treatment and a full recovery.

that sounds horrible... what happens if cervical cancer is diagnosed during a pregnancy? also, does insurance cover a surrogate? :O

[Melena]

I had one of those abnormal pap smears just before I got married at the age of 33. I went back for a second test and it came back normal. So don't panic first thing!

Yea, trying not too. Kinda hard for the wife though when the person tells her that at her age, if it is abnormal, it's 99% that it's not a false positive. Go figure lol

[Aksannyi]

that sounds horrible... what happens if cervical cancer is diagnosed during a pregnancy? also, does insurance cover a surrogate? :O

To be honest I don't know. On both questions. I guess depending on how far the cancer and the pregnancy were, they might suggest abortion. I really don't know what would have happened, I guess I was scared to ask.

[solanis]

To be honest I don't know. On both questions. I guess depending on how far the cancer and the pregnancy were, they might suggest abortion. I really don't know what would have happened, I guess I was scared to ask.

I'm glad you never had to find out D:

Melena, a little OT but what is going on in your sig's gif? lol

[kuronosan]

Solanis is right, but you really ought to ask for a re-test. We do HPV testing all of the time and even though false positives are rare it would be better to get a PCR confirmation with certainty than to start unnecessary, expensive treatment.

If you can afford to, or if your insurance covers it, ask about getting a confirmatory HPV-PCR test. If it has already been done and it is positive, you need to start treatment right away. Hopefully it's not aggressive and hasn't progressed if she does have it. Thankfully, cervical cancer is somewhat treatable but generally results in either a hysterectomy or complete infertility (as in, no eggs).

To be honest, I have worked in underserved communities doing pap smear testing and depending on the kit used there could actually be a high incidence of false positives. That's why most of these super sensitive tests are followed up with PCR testing, so that you don't start people on expensive-as-shit treatments for no reason.

My advice? Confirmation test. Fuck biopsies. If they're negative, it doesn't mean you're not in danger.

[Tyche]

In situ (non-invasive, equivalent to stage 0) is the most common (about 4x more common than invasive cervical cancers), so the prognosis is generally good with these things. Don't stress yourself out preemptively.

[Melena]

I'm glad you never had to find out D:

Melena, a little OT but what is going on in your sig's gif? lol

Last year when the Sharks and Redwings met in the playoff's, a sharks fan made that costume of a red wing fan being eaten by a shark. Since hockey started back up, it was time to bring out the red wing eater.

[vagus]

Last year when the Sharks and Redwings met in the playoff's, a sharks fan made that costume of a red wing fan being eaten by a shark. Since hockey started back up, it was time to bring out the red wing eater.

An epic sig. I wish you and your wife the best of luck Melena. As stated before trust your doctor. California seems to have an above average Cancer treatment centers available.

[MaachaQ]

This thread reminds me I haven't been to a doctor myself since moving over here... taken my children to several doctors, but haven't had anything for myself even though we have coverage ^^; Too much brainwashing from having to deal with US medical care where you generally only see a doctor when something's wrong. I had a yearly pap smear since my first child (I was 23 at the time), but it's now been 4 years or more since I've had one. I have a long history of urinary tract infections, so I would usually see my doctor every 3-6 months for treatment of that and my migraines. I really need to find a good english speaking doctor over here and have a checkup at the very least >.>

My daughter I now 9 years old, generally when do they begin giving the HPV shot? I know it's supposed to be given before any sexual activity, but is there a standard age? I really haven't read that much about it since it wasn't out yet when I was young and my daughter has been too young for it.

[Weeks]

14 or so.

BTW, listen to your doctor, not some guy on an internet forum. The guidelines for management of abnormal pap smears are well-researched.

[archibaldcrane]

My daughter I now 9 years old, generally when do they begin giving the HPV shot? I know it's supposed to be given before any sexual activity, but is there a standard age? I really haven't read that much about it since it wasn't out yet when I was young and my daughter has been too young for it.

Next time you go to the doctor just ask them to give it to her.

[Gryffes]

OP, does your wife have an advanced chemistry degree? If so I may have a business proposal for you.

[Melena]

LOL no she doesn't.

[Mamimikun]

*crossing fingers for the wife* But to all the lady's out there and the men with lady's there are free OBGYN doc's out there. I go to one... just look and ask around. if anyone is in So Cal and needs one just message me I have a great free doc.

[Cesaria]

Reminds me I've been filing reminder letters on my "must get round to it" pile for a good few years (and sods law can't go at the moment cos I'm pregnant). As for stuff and pregnancy - the only bit I know is that the screening test booklet I've got at the moment has a huge page basically saying if you're due a smear get one booked in for X weeks after you have the baby. Must get round to it as soon as I can.

Abnormal smears are fairly common like people say - but I gather from what you're saying that it's actually come back as cancerous.

[Lyrai]

My mom actually had cervical cancer in her mid 20's while pregnant. She opted for an abortion, only because it was that, or with radiation treatment, risk a very deformed child. She always had fertility issues, but she was eventually able to have me at 34. So if there is an issue, make sure she gets it taken care of now, before anything gets worse.

Because of the history of cancers and such in my family, I've been seeing a gynecologist since I was 16, and I go twice a year to get checked. I've gotten my HPV shot, and take birth control which reduces your risk of some cancers. I didn't have insurance for a few years but my state, and others, offer a women's health insurance that covers ONLY women's health care. Here in PA it's called Select Plan for Women, and it covered the visits completely, any care, and any prescriptions I needed. It actually covered my birth control totally, more than my insurance from work covers.