Just Wondering How Much An I At Risk Of Cervical Cancer? I Had Cin2 In 2000?
and had lazer to remove them before they had a chance for them to go to cancer. I have not had a pap smear for just a bit over 3 years. so I am just wondering how much of a risk am i if I do not get another pap smear? I have been having a lot of discharge lately but not sure if that has anything to do with it. any advice?
February 8th, 2010 at 11:51 pm
I don’t feel fully informed yet. I haven’t looked at the clinical trial that brought its approval, and I also don’t know if ACIP has weighed in with an opinion on its use or not. My first gloss impressions are:
1) It sounds expensive, so reimbursement is likely to be a big issue in the short term;
2) Aren’t the same adults who miss getting Pap smears likely to be the ones who miss getting the vaccine, too (IE, uninsured working poor)? If so, I wonder how many cases of cervical CA it will prevent in the real world. Pap smears, if done appropriately at the right intervals, “prevent” cervical cancers very effectively.
3) If I understand correctly, the two HPV strains associated with CA in the vaccine account for 70% of cervical cancers; obviously, that means it doesn’t cover the other 30%, right?
The greatest utility would seem to be in pre/early adolescents who clearly have a low exposure rate pre-vaccination. I think it got approved for ages 9-26.
Once again, though, those are largely uninformed impressions. I need to review the data much more thoroughly. It sounds to me like the big question will be COST-efficacy, not efficacy.
February 9th, 2010 at 12:57 am
where you not invited back for smears more regularly after your treatment? I have had CIN 3, i have got to go for a colposcopy soon again, smears every 6 months to begin with, then every year, only moving to every 3 years after 6 years. No, discharge is not necessarily a symptom of cancer, unless it smells. If you are worried, why don’t you book in for a smear? It is the only way to put your mind at rest. When i had my Abnormal smear result, i had not had a smear for 9 years, if you had CIN 2, it could have reverted back to normal anyway, or taken several years to become CIN3, then on to cancer. CIN 2 does not go straight on to become cancer. do get a smear.
February 9th, 2010 at 2:39 am
Given your medical history, it would seem wise to have at least one pap smear annually. Three years is way too long. Consult with your doctor.