gail
Hi courtneymarie and welcome to our group.
I’m happy to explain some of this for you to help reassure what your results mean and I understand you’re worried about things now while you don’t have your full results.
The first thing is the hpv virus-lots of us have this and never know about it, but for some of us it causes issues by changing the cells in the cervix. Cervical screening is to look for the presence of the hpv virus first, and if you have a positive test for this, the cells will be tested further. High grade dyskariosis is CIN, and although the word severe looks scary it is not cancer. It is however, the highest level of precancerous cells (the levels are 1,2 and 3) so will need to be treated.
It is the abnormal cells which need treatment. There is no treatment for the hpv virus itself, as this is something that cannot be cured. The hope is that your own immune system can get on top of the virus and clear it-ie make it dormant where it is not causing any further issues for you. But you can’t get any treatment for the virus itself because there isn’t any-only treatment for abnormal cells and the damage caused by them.
Since biopsies were taken at the colposcopy, these would have been analysed in the lab, where the dyskariosis(CIN) was identified. When you go to your appointment, you should be told what the next steps are going to be and the treatment is likely to be a LLETZ treatment where the abnormal cells are removed. This involves a straightforward procedure(not an operation) where the cells are removed. This might happen at your appointment, but it may be that a further clinic appointment is made for this.
After the treatment is done, you will have what is called a “test of cure” some months later. This will test for the hpv virus again to see if it has gone, and the hope is that you will have a negative result. The intention with the LLETZ treatment is that it removes the abnormal cells and a margin of health tissue around them to ensure everything is gone. This is called a clear margin. Normally this is achieved, but if not you may have to have further cells removed.
I hope that everything goes smoothly for you-I understand how worrying it is to have an abnormal result, but please try not to think the worst-dyskariosis is not cancer, and it can be successfully treated.
I’m sorry I didn’t see your post when you made it as I normally always keep a close eye on new posts to welcome all our new members to the group. Please let us know how you get on and feel free to ask any more questions if you think of any. I’ll look out for any further posts from you and make sure I answer you myself so you get the correct information.
Sarah xx
Oh, it’s always hard waiting for things-usually it’s the most difficult part of the process.
It can be possible for the biopsy to pick up cancerous cells, but from what you’ve been told so far, that’s not the case. However, it’s also possible for cancerous cells to be picked up after the LLETZ as it is treating a larger area than a biopsy takes. What is taken in a LLETZ is analysed afterwards to make sure everything is gone.
A LLETZ would normally be done on the basis that you have CIN3 as it usually needs treated, but it looks like at this point there has been no cancer identified which is a very positive thing!
Try to keep yourself busy, keep away from dr Google and hopefully this will all be behind you soon.
Sarah xx
