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Aussie Girl · 10-25-2013, 11:10 PM

Hi,

I'm hoping your pap smear is benign. i am a pathologist, trained in cytology. If you are on any sort of chemo or have been on any in the last 3 months, please make sure your doctor told the pathologist/ cytologist about this. Chemo may affect normal cells making them look bizarre, so they mimic malignancy. If the cytologist doesn't know your history, they may wrongly call the smear positive, when it is only the chemo effect.

Secondly, most abnormal pap smears are due to "pre-malignant" changes rather than invasive carcinoma. It's like DCIS compared to invasive breast carcinoma. Pre-invasive lesions in the cervix are very treatable and have an excellent prognosis. Even if there is early invasion, the prognosis is very good.

Good luck. I hope it all turns out well.

Aussie Girl

10-25-2013, 11:10 PM	#20
Aussie Girl Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Posts: 260	Re: Cervical cancer now?! Hi, I'm hoping your pap smear is benign. i am a pathologist, trained in cytology. If you are on any sort of chemo or have been on any in the last 3 months, please make sure your doctor told the pathologist/ cytologist about this. Chemo may affect normal cells making them look bizarre, so they mimic malignancy. If the cytologist doesn't know your history, they may wrongly call the smear positive, when it is only the chemo effect. Secondly, most abnormal pap smears are due to "pre-malignant" changes rather than invasive carcinoma. It's like DCIS compared to invasive breast carcinoma. Pre-invasive lesions in the cervix are very treatable and have an excellent prognosis. Even if there is early invasion, the prognosis is very good. Good luck. I hope it all turns out well. Aussie Girl __________________ 31mm Infiltrating duct carcinoma Grade 3, ER/PR-, HER2+, Neg Sentinel nodes x 5 49mm field of DCIS 17 June '13: Screen detected impalpable mass, Mammogram neg, US. 25 June '13: Diagnosed after multiple biopsies and MRIs 28 June '13: Left lumpectomey 4 July '13: Left Mastectomy 12 August '13: Commenced TCH chemo Mid December '13 : TCH finished. Herceptin continuing three weekly. 4 August 2014- Herceptin infusions finished. END OF THERAPY - YAY!