Abnormal Pap

Dayanara started this discussion · 4/20/2010

Hi everyone, well, I just got a call from my gyno's office, apparently the Pap smear I had done a couple weeks ago came back with some "changes", I am so scared, they told me it was nothing to panic about and that it will be most likely inflamed cells, they told me to come back in 6 months, September, to have another one done. Although they assured me it is nothing to panic about, I cant help it, I am dying here. I guess I just would like to know if any of you have had a similar thing happening, and what the outcome was. There is cancer history in my family, my grandfather died of prostate cancer, my other grandfather died of pancreatic cancer, and one of my grandmothers died of stomach cancer. 🙁 I really dont want to freak out but I cant help it.

13 replies

Ginger Kitty · 4/20/2010
I had one come back abnormal too at one time. When we retested, it came back just fine. I do not have a history of cancer in my family so I was not concerned. If you are truly concerned you should ask to be tested again sooner. It is most likely not anything to be worried about. However, you need to be your own health advocate. I think better to be safe than sorry. Hang in there! {{{Hugs}}}
amcut · 4/20/2010
I've had an abnormal pap- and retested fine as well. Cut the rough sex, D! I wouldn't be too worried since the cancers in your family are unrelated to the privates. You also look at the age that they were diagnosed and if they lived lives that would lead to those types of cancers. Generally, if they don't want to cut off chunks of your cervix, you shouldn't be worried. And even if they do want to.... they LIKE to cut off chunks of cervix, so it's not even a mega worry.
polergirl · 4/20/2010
Ditto to both Collette and Amcut, and here's my story: I had an abnormal PAP two years ago, retest still showed "abnormal" stuff, had to have a biopsy done in a few places....and they came back as something to watch but not anything imminently dangerous. The biopsy made me feel a little squinchy, but it was over in a jiffy.
chemgoddess1 · 4/20/2010
Been there, done that, had my cervix frozen in a few spots (ouchie) and have not had any issues since. I would not wait 6 months though, I would have a retest now. There are 2 pap tests performed, one is a "quick test" and the other is a little more involved. The testing facilities are all not 100% accurate all the time either. Better to retest now to put your mind at ease.
kklove · 4/20/2010
Same here I had a pap that came back wierd so I ended up having to have a culposcopy (which by the way feels like torture from the inside of ur uterus)...but i got through it okay. results came back normal. women have so much goin on in our bodies... :/. My dr told me that the first test could have been affected due to the fact i had just gotten off my cycle for the month(and you know that changes our system drastically)....so that is what i recommend if you can wait until at least a week or 2 after your cycle ends or 2 weeks before it begins...just to be safe (but that is if you are able to plan your appt like that). Stay positive chica *hugz*
Dayanara · 4/20/2010
Thank you so much girls!!! I called them back and asked to be tested sooner than 6 months, they said it was not necessary and that irritated cells take about 5-6 months to go back to normal anyway, I did have a vaginal infection a couple months ago, so they told me it could be just that, inflamed cells from that infection, I am trying to stay positive . 🙂 Amcut...what rough sex girl? I wish! lmao!!!. you guys made me feel much better. 🙂 🙂
megs982 · 4/20/2010
Even if in 6mths it does come back abnormal..Don't worry..I had pre cervical cancer from when i found out i was pregnant with my youngest (who will be 5 in September) Until about a year ago. I went through colposcopys (where they cut a chunk out of your cervix) a bazillon paps ..and finally a leep (where they take a electric loop and cut off all the bad cells) The Leep finally got it and i've had great paps since then.. Even abnormal cells on a pap most of the time aren't anything to worry about..there are only 2 strands to be a little concerned and since they caught this early even if it is that (which its most likely not) They caught it early enough! So RELAX please..stress does no good on the body 🙂
Dayanara · 4/20/2010
Thanks megs982 I'm glad you are ok after all that. 🙂, yes, I am going to try to relax, I am always very diligent with my pap smears and breast checks and such, so I think it should be ok. Thanks again, that makes me feel much better. 😛
SissyBuns · 4/20/2010
Dayday I can promise you this. As a nurse who has spent years and years doing pap, after pap, after pap....if it was something serious, you would be in the doctors office right now having a repeat. Paps come back abnormal all the time. The changes can range from mild to severe and mild changes aren't alarming. That's why they are waiting 6 months to repeat it. They're actually probably just repeating it in the first place because it's protocol for any change and just to be on the safe side. 😉
Journey · 4/20/2010
I can't add anything, but I wanted to let you know I was praying for you, Day. 🙂
Poledancefan · 4/26/2010
My wife and sister have had that happen. And the next re-test was normal. Sissy is right...the false positive rate in Pap Smears (for "changes") is very close to the normal rate of incidence, so a single test isn't probative of anything. There are some blood based tumor reactivity tests you can get...but they are kind of pricey...and like the pap or the prostate tests, they need to be baselined FIRST...then repeated for changes at intervals later in time. ANother female relative of mine had a scare like this 10 years ago when the tech slipped with the ultrasound probe in a vaginal ultrasound and produced a "LUMP" on an ovary. Turned out it was actually a blur on the sonograph. She had 2 repeat rounds of the tumor factor tests and another sonogram. No blur...and no tumor reactivity or changes in the levels... Fortunately,she was over 65 and Medicare paid the bills, because basically it was just a diagnostic error. You mentioned relatives with cancer. What age? A man dying of prostate cancer at 75-80 is not really significant of much. But if he was 45, that might be different. I'm not sure there is much correlation between female reproductive cancers and the other types--especially with men. Another thing I have read is that there can be cervical cell changes if you switch brands of pill...or go from one type of hormone preparation to another...or from one of the high dose to low dose type formulations.... I would not freak out about this right now. If you are getting regular pap smears, then you are AHEAD of the game, doing all the right stuff for early detection. And for the record, it's usually very treatable. I ran into my best friend's mom today at the deli. She was in her tennis uniform!!! She is 83 years old and had cervical cancer long before the advent of modern treatments, and had 3 kids before and 2 more after. She held the door open for me! Joel
workingfire · 4/26/2010
I had my first pap at seventeen and it was abnormal. I'm now twenty, I've had four paps - all abnormal - and two colposcopies complete with biopsies both times, and they are still telling me it's all just precautionary and not to worry about it. I guess because they can actually screen for cervical cancer before it starts, they are extra vigilant to make sure they don't miss anything. So I really wouldn't worry about it. And even if you are worried - look at all the ladies who have had similar issues and are willing to support you through it all! 🙂 Feel better.
Dayanara · 4/26/2010
Thanks a lot Joel, and yes, my grandparents died very old, the youngest one, and the one with prostate cancer was 72, I am more calm now. thanks Sissy for your input too. and everyone! 🙂