Bordeline changes. Vault smear year after TAH for high grade CGIN

Hi lovely ladies.
I joined here before my hysterectomy operation (TAH) on March 15th 2011. I posted a few times but mostly read an re-read everyones stories and questions, it helped me feel less alone. I bought the book recommended on here which if anyone wants I can post on to you to read just pm me address ( I am in UK)


I just wondered if anyone has had a simlilar experience or could shed some light on my situation. It's just that i had my womb, cervix one fallopian tube removed because of carcinoma in situ or high gade CGIN which ever you call it. I thought that was it. Big op all done phew. but now my vault smear test has come back with borderline changes and I cant see how? I dont have those bits anymore so how can that be? I thought it was all done with but now I cant be discharged and have to go back in sept for colposcopy. I am gutted but I know that these changes are not serious. just wondered if anyone else knows what this means. Thanks so much lee-lou xxx

I am so sorry you are going through this. It's almost unfair. We get all psyched up thinking the hysterectomy is going to be the answer to our prayers, only to find out there are still risks involved

In all honesty, there's a pretty good chance these borderline changes mean nothing significant. Not that you don't need to follow up because you absolutely do, but most end up resolving themselves. So many things can cause an abnormal vault smear--an infection, inflammation from irritation, recent sexual activity prior to the PAP, hormonal changes, and the list goes on. Sometimes the changes are true cellular changes of the vaginal cells, but it quite frequently will revert back to normal over a period of time. If it does not revert back to normal, there are treatments available that have minimal recovery time. Try not to panic too early!

In the meantime, take good care of yourself. Get plenty of sleep. Eat your veggies. Take a multivitamin. Exercise moderately. Incorporate meditation/prayer/yoga into your life. Be kind to yourself.

Please keep us informed of your status. Wishing you health and happiness!

Hey Jeanine,
Thanks for your comforting words. What you say makes a lot of sense and i hope next time i go for a check the cells will have gone back to normal. It was just such a shock to get that letter when I thought this was all done with. Got a long wait till September but not going to spend the next 5 months stressing out about it.
So glad to have the support of wonderful ladies like yourself xx

I don't have any insight or advice. I just had a TAH for carcinoma in situ as well. I haven't booked my follow up pap yet, I"m having anxiety at the thought of doing so. I also have a vulvar biopsy scheduled for June and am freaking out about that as well. I know what you mean though, thinking it's all done and like the energizer bunny.. it just keeps going and going..

I wish you well. The good thing is that it didn't come back CIN3, stay focused on that.

	Quote:
Originally Posted by lee-lou Hi lovely ladies. I joined here before my hysterectomy operation (TAH) on March 15th 2011. I posted a few times but mostly read an re-read everyones stories and questions, it helped me feel less alone. I bought the book recommended on here which if anyone wants I can post on to you to read just pm me address ( I am in UK) I just wondered if anyone has had a simlilar experience or could shed some light on my situation. It's just that i had my womb, cervix one fallopian tube removed because of carcinoma in situ or high gade CGIN which ever you call it. I thought that was it. Big op all done phew. but now my vault smear test has come back with borderline changes and I cant see how? I dont have those bits anymore so how can that be? I thought it was all done with but now I cant be discharged and have to go back in sept for colposcopy. I am gutted but I know that these changes are not serious. just wondered if anyone else knows what this means. Thanks so much lee-lou xxx

hi lee-lou, I just logged onto this site because of a similar concern.

in October 2010 i had a radical hysterectomy to treat adenocarcinoma in situ. i was told afterward everything was just fine; all cancerous material removed, etc. They even said "we might have gotten away with doing another cone biopsy to remove it". I had two follow up paps since (6 months after and 1 year after) and both were normal. now i just had my third follow up pap and got the dreaded call that there were "abnormal" changes.

the doctor is telling me not to worry, but how can you not?? especially after all we have been through! when i first learned i had cervical cancer it was after a NORMAL pap!! my conservative GYN did a colpo (because i have a history of HPV) which uncovered the adenocarcinoma. they are telling me now this is not cancer but it is abnormal and i shouldn't worry but there's nothing i can do except come back for a follow up pap in six months. i talked them down to three months because i said there is no way i can just sit here for six months wondering what is happening inside my body. i have tried to make many healthy lifestyle changes over the past year and i just wonder what else i can do to take charge of my situation.

sorry this turned into a novel, but your situation sounds very similar to mine. i just got this call yesterday and i am still very unnerved and apprehensive about what will happen.

hugs to you.

hey qzar,

great to hear from you. It really helps when you know your not alone sometimes. Energiser bunny lol yeah I know what you mean there. Soon takes the wind out of your sails when they say somethings not quite right though. Best of well wishes for you with your biopsy. A horrid time when your waiting for the results to come in. I wish you well with that xx

hey buddygal, wow we sound like hyster twins. I also had adenocarcinoma in situ. It is such a blow to have these bad paps but when I phoned up the colposcopy lead nurse was so nice and re-assured me that these changes really can return to normal so i am holding on to that. Hope she is right and for both of us things go back to normal and then we can move on properly with out thinking of ladybits every day! I am on a health drive too, looking after myself more and hoping that will help xx here's to early morning jogs and fresh salads--mines a soda water hahaha (-: let me know how you get on if you get a chance xx

hyster-twins indeed, lol! i also had my cone biopsy in august 2010.
it really is a blow when you're going along thinking your treatment is successful and then this happens and rocks your boat all over again. we both have to keep in mind that "changes" do not necessarily = cancer again. that's how i finally calmed myself down. i reached out to a knowledgeable source and she assured me that many of us go through these series of abnormal paps after hysterectomy and it could really be caused by anything (inflammation, etc) and stress only makes it worse!!
so YES, right on, early morning jogs (and yoga in my case; it really helps!) and a green smoothie every day can only help us out. i hope indeed that both of our follow-ups end up being normal so we can breathe easier again! xo