Medical Update

[trickykitty]

I got the results back from the topical biopsy. It's the same thing that I had before, which is known as cervical dysplasia (two good articles: Women's Health Channel and CancerBacup).

I have to go in for the 12 weekly 5FU treatments like I did before. 5FU is actually a form of chemotherapy that changes the DNA of the topical abnormal cells on the outside of the cervix. If it were on the outside skin, like when it's used to get rid of skin cancer cells, it turns the area into a deep red "bruise" as my doctor was able to show me, since he is in the process of having treatments done on his face. There's no pain involved and it's more a nuisance having to go to the doctor each week for something that only takes him less than 2 minutes to perform. But hey, I'd rather have the nuisance than the alternative.

After treatments he'll run another pap smear. He's hopeful that it will clear up with the treatments like it did before. If it doesn't clear up then I will have to go in for a cone biopsy in which a serious chunk of cervix is surgically removed while under anesthesia in the hospital. At this point it becomes a major surgery requiring a few weeks of recover. (Warning: the cone biopsy info gets a little more into it, but here it is if your really THAT curious: cone biopsy.)

He urges against the cone biopsy because at that point I start dealing with the whole lack-of-getting-pregnant issues. He's really good about looking out for any possible future I might want regarding babies. Whether it's yeah or nay, he likes to keep my options as open as possible.

I am glad that I have him for my doctor. He tries to keep me looking to the positive side, which is admittedly tough to do even at such an early, promising stage. I've already had one friend who had a hysterectomy in her late teens due to cervical cancer. I guess since I knew someone that's already been through this it hits me pretty close to home. I try to just keep myself neutral, but I know inside I have a lot that I'm probably suppressing. There's just nothing I can do about it and so I know that at least consciously worrying about it will do no good. I think that's why I'm actually typing this out. If I didn't get it out there I'd probably drive myself insane.

So off I go for a few months worth of treatments and then wait for the next round of results.

Comments

[isotripy.livejournal.com]

Good luck with the treatments, its all sounds a bit scarey but early detection is good. This reminds me I really need to go and get a pap smear done. I've let it slip.