Cervical Dysplasia

[livingwith]

I am almost 40 years old, and have just had my second LEEP (electrocauterization) procedure to have stage 3 (severe) dysplasia cell tissue removed.
My first procedure was 6 years ago, when I was 33. I’d had “atypical” PAP results before, but my former gyn just had me retest, and that was it. After moving to another state, my new gyn decided to do a colposcopy after an atypical result, and that was the first time I found out I carry the HPV virus. I have no idea how long I ha...Read the full article

[OncSW]

Thank you for posting this. I am also having to deal with cervical dysplasia, and am very anxious about starting at the beginning again. Here's a little background: I'm twenty-six, and had my first abnormal pap in May 2008. The colposcopy/biopsy in June came back with CIN-II and CIN-III cells, so I was scheduled quickly for a LEEP in July. My doc was very concerned that I had CIN-IIIs when my pap only 11 months prior was completely normal (I was obviously right on top of normal visits). I was very, very nervous about the surgery as the biopsy was very painful, scary (almost fainted after the procedure, and was there by myself. not fun.) and nasty to deal with after the fact. I went under general anesthetia for the surgery (electively). It turned out that the labs from the surgery didn't show any abnormal cells (thank God!). So, I thought I was good to go. At my 6-month follow-up, everything was clear. I thought everything would be fine and dandy for the 1 year (this month), though it looks as though that is not the case. My pap came back abnormal, so now I'm off for my second biopsy on Thursday. My doc made special arrangements for this biopsy (fit me into her lunch break on Thursday so I didn't have to wait until her next open appt in June). I didn't expect to be so anxious about something like this, to be honest, but it is really getting to me. It has oddly caught me off-guard, which is strange as I am an oncology social worker and see cancer day in and day out... or maybe that is why it makes me so anxious, I don't know! Anyhow, if anyone has any pointers on how to cope with this effectively on your own (I'm not married, and have no family in the area... though do have a wonderfully supportive group of friends), I'll take 'em! :)