Top

30

Doctor insights on: Can You Have Cervical Cancer With A Normal Pap Smear

You: You need to discuss the results of your pap smear with your doctor again so you better understand what was found. Sometimes a test is done with the pap smear to determine if the cerix is infected with a strain of hpv that would put you at a higher risk for cancer and sometimes a special examination of the cervix called a colposcopy is needed to double check the area. Thankfully, many, many women who have abnormal cells will not develop cancer. ...Read more

Cervical cancer: Truly anything is possible but unlikely. With that many ASCUS paps I would request my slides be sent to a different pathology group for review. ...Read more

Not necessarily: What was the test result. Abnormal does not mean cancer. You may need colposcopic examination and may be a biopsy. Please follow your doctor's advice for follow up tests. ...Read more

HPV and Cervix: There is a possibility. But, that would not be normal for health care in the us. First I hope after the pap smear they offered you a colposcopy and treatment. Second I would hope that you also got the gardisil vaccine to help as best you can any further progression of the risk for this disease. Yes. It is recommended by many in the know to get vaccinated in this scenario. ...Read more

Not likely: If the pap was negative, it is unlikely that you would develop cancer within the year. The recommendations of a pap every year are based on the odds of changes occurring over that time frame. ...Read more

Not necessarily: Pap test is a screening test. If it is abnormal it does not mean cancer in every case. You need to go back and see your gynecologist. He/she can explain the cause. There are many precancerous conditions which can go away with time. Most such changes resolve on their own and rarely are indicative of cancer development over a period of many years. ...Read more

It varies: The recommendations is to do an annual pap smear as it helps in early diagnosis and possible curative intervention if the cervical cancer is detected early. Do not wait longer. Prevention and early intervention in this disease can make a big difference in this disease outcomes. ...Read more

See doctor: Until there is a biopsy done and evaluated with a microscope, no one will know if you have cancer, advanced or not. I wish you the best. ...Read more

Depends: Pap smear is usually a screening tool that if abnormal prompts one to do a colposcopy with biopsy to definitively diagnose cervical cancer. Although ca in situ can be seen initially with a pap smear. ...Read more

Sometimes;rare: We do see extranodal lymphoma or lymphoid neoplasm in nonlymphoid tissue. Not the common scenario but is seen. ...Read more

Gynecologist: You need periodic PAP smear to ward against cancer of the vagina. You may not need it every year and should discuss it with your gynecologist. ...Read more

Usually, yes: A cervical cytology (pap smear) is scraped along the cervix usually, but can also be scraped along the vaginal wall. Squamous lesions (dysplasia or carcinoma) are the most commonly found. However, endometrial tumors are shed through the cervix into the vagina. Certain sarcomas (rhabdomyosarcoma: malignant skeletal muscle tumor) can also be found. Generally, a pap is an excellent screening tool. ...Read more

Yes: Pap smear can defind cervical cancer including squamous carcinoma and adenocarcinoma, and cell changes which could be precancer changes (follow up is important). Pap smear can reveal trichomonas vaginalis, herpes virus changes, fungal organisms-candida, can reveal normal and atypical endometrial cells. Metastasis to the cervix could be seen on pap. ...Read more

No: The high risk numbers you are probably talking about are strains of HPV, human papilloma virus. Certain strains of this virus make you more likely to get cervical cancer but having this virus strain does not mean that you have it. If you get regular pap smears then the doctors will be able to remove abnormal cells before it turns in to cancer so make sure you get regular pap smears. ...Read more

Takes time: It takes time for dysplastic changes to take place in the cervix after infection with HPV. It doesn't happen overnight, rather years. However, if a girl becomes sexually active at a young age, like early teens, then SHOULD have an earlier first Pap smear. It's not a one size fits all recommendation. ...Read more

No: Bleeding is common after a pap-smear. It doesn't mean cancer is present. Best wishes! ...Read more

It could: Although it is a screwing test for cervical cancer, on rare occasions abnormal cells in smear could signal a cancer in the endometrium ...Read more

Biopsy diagnosis?: Until the cervix is biopsied via Colposcopy or other means, the Pap smear diagnosis is irrelevant. We use the biopsied tissue to determine and document the diagnosis. Future pregnancy is possible if it is not invasive cervical cancer and even then eggs can be harvested from your ovaries prior to definitive surgery. ...Read more

We do not guess: You are asking for physicians to guess. That does not happen. Let's see what your results are and then deal with them rationally. ...Read more

HPV test?: Unfortunately, anyone who has had genital contact is at risk for cervical cancer because the human papilloma virus is so widespread. Usually when we find atypical cells on a pap smear, we reflexively test for hpv. If it is positive, then you do have a small risk for dysplasia or precancer, but if it is negative, you have almost no risk. If your hpv test is (+), you will need follow up. ...Read more

Herpes: There are two types of herpes, type one (usually infected by family members in childhood and mostly in the peri-oral area) and type two (was known as 'genital' herpes and is found somewhere between the belly button and the thighs). There is no herpes test with the pap smear. One has to have a blood test to determine if one has been infected with herpes. ...Read more

Uncommon: Most cervical cancers are due to infection with a virus, human papiloma virus (hpv) which is usually acquired through sexual intercourse. Oral sex can transmit hpv and using condom is not protective either. You are too young to have cervical cancer, but I would strongly urge you to seek care for preventive services, including hpv vaccine, though you may have missed the recommended age for vaccine. ...Read more

Possible: Keeping up with the changes in your pap smear are the primary way you can recognize and treat the issue before it becomes a threat. The timing is best determined by the OBGYN who is following your case. ...Read more

Get a pap: HPV can take decades to trigger cervical cancer & studies cite as many as 70% of college age women have blood evidence of prior infection. It is rare in young women in spite of this. If you have been sexually active for 3 years it is reasonable to get a pap smear done and you should be able to find someone to do it, but I wouldn't sell the farm to get it. ...Read more

Pap Smear: It is very low. You have "low grade' that means stage one out of five. Five is cancer. Your physician will next do a colposcopy and work to remove or limit any risk for further progression. ...Read more

No: Your risk for cervical cancer is not increased based on family history. Unlike cancers of the breast, ovary, and bowel which have some genetic predispositions - cervical cancer is not hereditary. Cervical cancer risk is related to history of std's (particularly hpv), numerous sexual partners, and to some extent tobacco abuse. ...Read more

Not yet: Cervical cancer is often caused by one of the
papilloma viruses. Unprotected sexual contacts can lead to cervical inflammation, later to cancer. Get the human papilloma virus vaccine now. ...Read more

Negative pap?: If your present pap is negative, then it is more likely that the "groin lumps" (lymph nodes) are caused by an infection. Please see your md for clarification. ...Read more

Be concerned: You should be screened for diabetes.

Check with Dr.: The reason for doing pap smears with hpv is to prevent cervical cancer. Oftentimes they can find it early enough that it can be destroyed locally. It's hard to tell exactly what your abnormalities are. Follow-up with your doctor and you should be able to find out the specifics of these abnormalities. This is best discussed with your physician. ...Read more