(((Anne)))
I'm sorry to hear that you are having these problems. And how frustrating for you to have communication issues! You must have been quite concerned when you returned to work to find a message there that was left in July!
Keep in mind that the PAP is just a screening tool. While it can provide some indication of the level of involvement, it's not really the PAP's job to say exactly what's going on. So, when an abnormal PAP occurs, the next step is a biopsy, and then a LEEP or cone biopsy. Each of those are progressively more technical and provides additional information. The cone biopsy is also considered to be a treatment. It removes a large area, and the goal is to remove a large enough area that all of the abnormal cells are removed and additionally some of the healthy surrounding tissue is removed. If healthy tissue is visualized all the way around the abnormal cells during the pathology, then it's assumed that all of the abnormal cells were removed during the procedure.
Cervical cancer is generally slow-growing, but not always. The fact that you went from a normal test to an abnormal test in one year's time, though, is quite common. It's concerning, but common. It's possible that you simply started developing problems shortly after your 2203 PAP. It's also possible that there were already some abnormal cells at the time of your 2003 PAP that simply weren't picked up during the sampling process. I once had a normal PAP in September, and had carcinoma-in-situ in December of that same year. Its frustrating!
The statistics show that most women are considered to be cured after a cone (approximately 90%). A certain number of those will recur somewhere down the road and can be treated again with another cone. Lots of things can cause this to develop quickly--stress is considered to be one of the contributors.
I know it doesn't sound very slow-growing when you go from normal to abnormal in one year. While treatment is essentially a necessity, it's also important to remember that not all cases of dysplasia will develop into cancer. We just don't know which cases will and which won't, so treatment is really important. Now that you've been treated, hopefully you will never have another problem!
You might like to try to work on your immune system to help you fight off this virus for the long-term. Eat well. Take a multivitamin (folic acid is believed to help keep the virus from making our cells change into an abnormal state). Get plenty of sleep. Exercise moderately. Pray/meditate/do yoga. All of these things are believed to help improve the body's immune responses.
Good luck! Remember to continue receiving regular PAP's. Most of us go every 3 months for the first 2 years, then yearly. Check with your doctor for your follow up schedule! Let us know how you are getting along!
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