Melissa
Experienced Member
Posts:146
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| 06/10/2008 1:47 PM |
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Are annual PAP's still necessary once you have had a hysterectomy and one ovary removed due to Cervical Cancer. My GYN back in 1999 said it was not necessary yet now I am hearing contradictory stories related to the cuff lining tissue being at high risk for cancer? What is the real scoop from someone in that field?
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Melissa Welch LPN |
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Jen at NT
Experienced Member
Posts:197
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| 06/10/2008 2:59 PM |
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| Well, from my mom who recently underwent a hysterectomy due to pre-cancerous cells, she was told that she will definitely need to continue with her annual PAP. At least for her, she is still considered "high risk".. |
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emador
Active Member
Posts:53
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| 08/19/2008 2:45 AM |
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It depends if they do a 'total' hysterectomy or not. If you still have a Cervix, you can still get cervical cancer and therefore need to have your annual PAP smears. If you have had a total hysterectomy, then you no longer have a cervix and do not get pap smears. If you don't have a Cervix, there's nothing to do a pap smear on.
e. |
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emador
Active Member
Posts:53
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| 08/19/2008 2:55 AM |
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I don't know how to edit my response so I have to add another. You might want to talk to your MD about a Colposcopy with/without biopsy. I don't know that they would do this annually but perhaps biannually dependent on the results. This would allow your Gyne. to have a good look at all the walls vaginal walls as well as the cuff lining to look for any abnormalities.
e. |
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emador
Active Member
Posts:53
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| 08/19/2008 2:56 AM |
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Posted By emador on 08/19/2008 2:55 AM
I don't know how to edit my response so I have to add another. You might want to talk to your MD about a Colposcopy with/without biopsy. I don't know that they would do this annually but perhaps biannually dependent on the results. This would allow your Gyne. to have a good look at all the walls vaginal walls as well as the cuff lining to look for any abnormalities.
e.
Boy - how I wish I could edit my responses so I could fix my grammar!!!
e. |
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Melissa
Experienced Member
Posts:146
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| 08/19/2008 3:02 AM |
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| To answer your question and my own. I had a complete hysterectomy including the cervix. I had a new cuff lining built from tissue from the vaginal wall. My GYN states it is still necessary to get a PAP due to the tissue but it is only required once every five years after being cancer free and placed on the cancer survivor list. |
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Melissa Welch LPN |
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emador
Active Member
Posts:53
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| 08/19/2008 4:46 AM |
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I don't understand how they do a true PAP Smear from vaginal tissue. That's why they do a Colposcopy. It is specifically for vaginal tissue. You take biopsies of vaginal tissue and of course cervical tissue but you can't take a smear from vaginal tissue. I'm sorry, I'm just trying to understand the anatomy, physiology and pathophysiology of a pap smear on vaginal tissue. I'll check the Mayo clinic and figure out how they can do that.
Good Luck.
Eilleen - RN
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Melissa
Experienced Member
Posts:146
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| 08/22/2008 5:21 AM |
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E, any new updates on the PAP vs. Colposcopy? I haven't followed through with the physical yet but I am scheduled for a complete head to toe...I will be 40 next month, you know what that means????? |
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Melissa Welch LPN |
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scheeksrn
Experienced Member
Posts:111
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| 10/20/2008 1:08 AM |
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| My PCP usually does PAPs every other year.. if I keep up to date with my physicals. And I do not have any family history of vajajay diseases. |
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M.B.
New Member
Posts:2
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| 07/09/2009 12:46 PM |
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| Just for anyone's information. I wrote an article that from my research indicates that women who test negative for 3 years can then just have PAPs every 2-3 years but what should probably be screened is testing for HPV, a strong indicator of risk for cervical CA.
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1688564/cervical_cancer_detection_hpv_dna_testing.html?cat=58
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eveningstr
Junior Member
Posts:12
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| 08/06/2009 1:40 PM |
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| What to hear something crazy - in the UK, women have to wait until they are 25 to have a pap smear. Government run health care. |
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