Aa
Just got diagnosed, help
I got diagnosed over a month ago with 1 stage, doctor said I need surgery, but since I don't have insurance he didn't seem to care. He prescribe me Megestrone and told me to fine a job that has insurance so that he can perform the surgery. I don't really trust this doctor, cause timing is a very imporant. It has to be done somehow. I don't know what to do. Am bleeding for a month now, I need your help. Should I do the surgery as soon as possible. What should I know about the surgery, I don't have any idea what to expect. Please need your feed back. Tell me all u know about this surgery. How long does it take to recover. Plus ,do you know any organizations that help people without insurance. desperate for answers. thanks
A biopsy has been done. What it surprised me was that about 7 month ago I went for GYn and had pop smear, which showed no sign. Doctor said every thing is fine. Can u believe it after another check up ( after 7 month) didin't feel well and I found out that I had it. He said am going to have it removed. But am just 36, single no child and never been married. All in a sudden my life is changing and I worry a lot. Is hysteroctomy the only option? (Thaks for your info Pamnys)
A pap wouldnt show anything. They gave you a biopsy without removing the mass?
Anna x
Anna x
Welcome to the site. I strongly suggest that you get a 2nd opinion from a gyn/onc. You should not be denied medical care. There are agencies that can help. Please find another dr. You are in my thoughts and prayers. Godspeed
~Tascha
~Tascha
The lap report (through biopsy)showed that I have it. the pop didn't show anything. How long is hospital stay, and what should I know about survery.
As far as the insurance goes(that's my field), in my opinion even if you found a job & got insurance, the insurance would probably deny the surgery & treament as a pre-existing conditon. BUT, there may be other options. I don't know what state you live in but you can see if you are eligible for Medicaid. Also see what chapters are in your area of organizations for Ovarian Cancer. For example/Ovarian Cancer Foundation, etc(I don't know their names but I know there is quite a bit of different ones out there) If you google on the internet & probably will pull some up that you can research. Find one of these & contact them & see if they can help get you hooked up with physicians/hospitals that participate with these organizations & may be able to assist you with funding. I have a friend that had hysterectomy done for fibroids even without insurance & went thru the Medicaid program. There are ways, it may just take a little effort to search them out.
Ok, I looked on the internet quick & I found Ovarian Cancer Health Alliance. Their web site is www.ovariancancer.org. When your at the site, click on the top "bar" that says "advocacy" & then it will pop up with different choices, choose "Health Policy Links". This gives a whole slew of links that are related that help you with health insurance, etc. Hope this helps. Don't give up! Your worth it!
Just one more, Patient Advocate Foundation, www.patientadvocate.org. These people I personally dealt with before, they helped my father get copayments paid back to him when he had out-of-pockets expenses for expensive oral chemo.treamtent he was receiving. I know another patient who is trying to go thru this program as well. They may have other avenues for people in your financial/insurance situation. I would get there phone number & speak to one of their counselors directly. This place was referred to my father from the oncologist he was seeing.
Can you please clarify? I'm a bit confused. Did he say you have ovarian cancer stage 1 or cervical cancer, stage 1? Your posts seem to be indicating that you are referring to cervical cancer.
Linda
Linda
Cervical is very slow-moving, but you don't want to mess around. He can turn you down for treatment (an idiot I might add) but the hospital can't. Get there. The procedure if it's stage one can be as simple as a LEEP but only they can tell you.
Linda
Linda
In the Same Boat gave you some excellent options. Those organizations will help. You also need to follow up with the doctor that put you off, told you to get a job and get insurance. It is true that if you had cancer before getting a job, treatment would be considered pre-existing in most cases, so that won't help you get medical attention which is your FIRST PRIORITY. Once things slow down, you may want to consider reporting the doctor who told you go get a job to the Medical Board. What he did by telling you this and not directing you on how to get medical attention is in grave violation of any doctor's oath and the medical boards will not take it lightly. He should be stopped in his tracks from ever doing this to anyone else. I hope and pray for the very best resolution for you all around.
You should definately have a repeat PAP with another physician, especially since PAP's are not staged the same as ovarian cancer for instance. You should have had a result like LGSIL or HGSIL. At any rate, as was said in another post, cervical cancer is slow moving and early disease should first be confirmed with a colposcopy and biopsy and then if the result is still positive would be followed up with a LEEP procedure. The cervical cancer has to be very advanced to warrant a hysterectomy.
Louana the midwife
Louana the midwife
Hi Silla,
I am glad that Linda asked her question. I, too, had wondered if you were talking about a cervical issue. And, from the sound of it, you were diagnoses with stage 1 cancer of the cervix? And, this diagnosis was made after lesions were biopsied during a coposcopy? I am assuming here of course, but just trying to figure out the problem. I am just going to make sure that you were not referring to Mild cervical dysplasia. They usually don't give any meds or do surgery for that. And, although they used to "stage" dysplasia's, they now refer to them as "Mild, Moderate, or Severe." The next step from that would be cervical cancer.
I am going to assume that they found at least something on the pap smear, unless due to your symptoms they decided to go right ahead and do the coposcopy. But, it is sometimes hard to convince doctors to do these unless there is a consistent pattern of pap smears that show cervical dysplasia when checked every three months. Many times cervical dysplasia clears up on its own. There is controversy regarding this, though, as in my case when I asked for a coposcopy the very first time I had a bad pap smear...at age 45 (and the year before things were fine). Mine turned out to be severe cervical dysplasia and so I had the LEEP procedure. It was a relatively pain free surgery that I had done in the doctors office. They basically cut away the bad cells. My friend had cervical cancer and she too had something like the LEEP procedure. A hysterectomy was not warranted in that case.
I do hope you can get some help with this. I am impressed that so many people offered ideas...
I found this following information when I was trying to find out what megestrone was. I think it is a progestin...part of the family of synthetic progestegens. Not sure, but it sounds like it. Apparently it is megestrone acetate. I came close to finding more information and the "teaser" line was "Megestrone along with other treatments for...." but, I could not access the website. But, it sounds like you are on something to try to stop the growth of the cells and maybe make them regress.
I wish you the best. Take care and let us know how you are doing. Mary
Here is part of an article or medical abstract I found.
--------------Oh, I do believe that the "uterine fundus" is the cervix...right?
Well, for all the medical science students...here goes:
Rozier JC Jr, Underwood PB Jr.--------
Obstet Gynecol. 1974 Jul;44(1):60-4. Related Articles, Links
Use of progestational agents in endometrial adenocarcinoma.
PIP: Since 1963 there have been 266 patients with cancer of the uterine fundus at the Medical University of South Carolina. Progestational agents were used to treat 54 but 10 received the drugs for less than 1 month. This report relates to the remaining 44. 34 were treated with Depo-Provera (medroxyprogesterone acetate), 9 with Colprone (megestrone acetate), and 1 with Megace (megestrol acetate). Of the 34 patients treated with Depo-Provera 13 showed regression of the tumor; 3 of the 9 treated with Colprone showed regression. In an additional 11 (25%) of cases growth of the tumors was arrested. 7 of these were later found to have abdominal metastases; however, 3 were free of symptoms for over 43 months. A patient on Depo-Provera with lung metastases had recurrence after 62 months when treatment was reduced to every other week but when Colprone was then given, regression again occurred and has continued for almost 10 years. Another patient not responding to Depo-Provera did respond to Colprone.
I am glad that Linda asked her question. I, too, had wondered if you were talking about a cervical issue. And, from the sound of it, you were diagnoses with stage 1 cancer of the cervix? And, this diagnosis was made after lesions were biopsied during a coposcopy? I am assuming here of course, but just trying to figure out the problem. I am just going to make sure that you were not referring to Mild cervical dysplasia. They usually don't give any meds or do surgery for that. And, although they used to "stage" dysplasia's, they now refer to them as "Mild, Moderate, or Severe." The next step from that would be cervical cancer.
I am going to assume that they found at least something on the pap smear, unless due to your symptoms they decided to go right ahead and do the coposcopy. But, it is sometimes hard to convince doctors to do these unless there is a consistent pattern of pap smears that show cervical dysplasia when checked every three months. Many times cervical dysplasia clears up on its own. There is controversy regarding this, though, as in my case when I asked for a coposcopy the very first time I had a bad pap smear...at age 45 (and the year before things were fine). Mine turned out to be severe cervical dysplasia and so I had the LEEP procedure. It was a relatively pain free surgery that I had done in the doctors office. They basically cut away the bad cells. My friend had cervical cancer and she too had something like the LEEP procedure. A hysterectomy was not warranted in that case.
I do hope you can get some help with this. I am impressed that so many people offered ideas...
I found this following information when I was trying to find out what megestrone was. I think it is a progestin...part of the family of synthetic progestegens. Not sure, but it sounds like it. Apparently it is megestrone acetate. I came close to finding more information and the "teaser" line was "Megestrone along with other treatments for...." but, I could not access the website. But, it sounds like you are on something to try to stop the growth of the cells and maybe make them regress.
I wish you the best. Take care and let us know how you are doing. Mary
Here is part of an article or medical abstract I found.
--------------Oh, I do believe that the "uterine fundus" is the cervix...right?
Well, for all the medical science students...here goes:
Rozier JC Jr, Underwood PB Jr.--------
Obstet Gynecol. 1974 Jul;44(1):60-4. Related Articles, Links
Use of progestational agents in endometrial adenocarcinoma.
PIP: Since 1963 there have been 266 patients with cancer of the uterine fundus at the Medical University of South Carolina. Progestational agents were used to treat 54 but 10 received the drugs for less than 1 month. This report relates to the remaining 44. 34 were treated with Depo-Provera (medroxyprogesterone acetate), 9 with Colprone (megestrone acetate), and 1 with Megace (megestrol acetate). Of the 34 patients treated with Depo-Provera 13 showed regression of the tumor; 3 of the 9 treated with Colprone showed regression. In an additional 11 (25%) of cases growth of the tumors was arrested. 7 of these were later found to have abdominal metastases; however, 3 were free of symptoms for over 43 months. A patient on Depo-Provera with lung metastases had recurrence after 62 months when treatment was reduced to every other week but when Colprone was then given, regression again occurred and has continued for almost 10 years. Another patient not responding to Depo-Provera did respond to Colprone.
sorry...just a correction...Colposcopy. All my nurse girlfriends call it a "copo" for short so I always forget the "L."
Mary
Mary
The uterine fundus is the top of the uterus, the cervix is the opening or the "bottom" of the uterus.
I did think you were first talking about ovca but wasn't sure. So dr says your have cervical cancer. Is is stage 1 or cervical dysplasia? I had cervical dysplasia when I was 22 yrs old(I'm 42 yrs now) that was caused by HPV(human papilloma virus). They found it on my post partum checkup after my son was born when my pap smear came up bad. I had to have laser surgery on my cervix to kill the dysplasia because he told me if I waited too long it would turn into cancer. I too waited approx 6 months at that time because I also was young & had no insurance & had to borrow the money from my parents for the surgery. IF it is just dysplasia they can get rid of completely. I had to have follow up pap smears every 3months for about of year & then annually after that. Try not wait on the surgery if you can help it because cervical cancer is very curable in its early stages.
Hi brthbbs,
Thanks for the clarification. I was going crazy trying to remember what body part that was.
Take care, Mary
Thanks for the clarification. I was going crazy trying to remember what body part that was.
Take care, Mary
What's the LEEP procedure & what does it stand for? I guess this must be the latest treatment out there. I had dysplasia in 1986 & they lasered off the layer of the entire cervix & it was done in hospital at that time.
I know that LEEP stands for something...
Aha....Sorry for the "Cutting and Pasting" tonight. It is late, and I could not remember what the letters stood for. I thought this was a good description....
"What is LEEP?
You may not be familiar with this term, as the technique is newer than Laser procedures for treatment of the cervix. LEEP stands for Loop Electrosurgical Excision Procedure. This is a procedure designed to diagnose and/or treat the uterine cervix (neck of the womb) of women with abnormal Pap tests. A number of other names (acronyms) have been used to describe the procedure, including LLEC (Large Loop Excision of the Cervix, Loop Cone Biopsy and in Britain the term is LLETZ (Large Loop Excision of the Transformation Zone). All depict a procedure that uses an electrical energy generator, attached to a fine wire loop that when energized, functions as a precise and rapid surgical tool. This instrument is then directed toward an abnormal area on the cervix and may be used quickly, effectively and painlessly to remove the abnormal tissue. At Sunnybrook Health Science Centre the latest in electrosurgical technology is available through a low voltage computerized generator, Erbie, which automatically selects the amount of energy necessary for an optimal operation."
Obviously this is from Sunnybrook Health Science Centre...I should have copied more so as to give credit where credit is due...
Goodnight...Mary
Aha....Sorry for the "Cutting and Pasting" tonight. It is late, and I could not remember what the letters stood for. I thought this was a good description....
"What is LEEP?
You may not be familiar with this term, as the technique is newer than Laser procedures for treatment of the cervix. LEEP stands for Loop Electrosurgical Excision Procedure. This is a procedure designed to diagnose and/or treat the uterine cervix (neck of the womb) of women with abnormal Pap tests. A number of other names (acronyms) have been used to describe the procedure, including LLEC (Large Loop Excision of the Cervix, Loop Cone Biopsy and in Britain the term is LLETZ (Large Loop Excision of the Transformation Zone). All depict a procedure that uses an electrical energy generator, attached to a fine wire loop that when energized, functions as a precise and rapid surgical tool. This instrument is then directed toward an abnormal area on the cervix and may be used quickly, effectively and painlessly to remove the abnormal tissue. At Sunnybrook Health Science Centre the latest in electrosurgical technology is available through a low voltage computerized generator, Erbie, which automatically selects the amount of energy necessary for an optimal operation."
Obviously this is from Sunnybrook Health Science Centre...I should have copied more so as to give credit where credit is due...
Goodnight...Mary
Ah yes that makes much more sense. I couldn't get my head around how it was biopsied but not removed!
Anna x
Anna x
Hi Silla,
I was diagnosed with high grade cervical dysplasia (precancerous cells) in September '05. In November I had a colposcopy & at the same time I had a biopsy.
In January of 2006 I had a LEEP procedure to remove the high grade cells. The procedure started with the colposcopy & then a local anaesthetic was injected into the cervix & the LEEP (the size of a pencil) was inserted into me & the cells were scraped off - took 5 minutes). To tell you the truth, the biopsy was more uncomfortable than the LEEP - you have nothing to worry about, I was able to drive myself home after the procedure as I was not given a general. Was able to go back to work that day, had mild cramps (like period cramps), but not nearly as bad as ovarian cyst cramps were after my TVU. I just had a check-up in May and the high grade cells are gone & have not grown back. So from the time I was diagnosed to the time the cells were removed, 4 months had gone by.
Please note that if you are going to get a 2nd opinion you should make sure that 6 weeks have passed from your last pap before having another one done. Apparently it takes that long for your cervical cells to grow back properly - I went for a 2nd opinion & had a 2nd pap within 3 weeks of having my first pap & the 2nd pap came back showing only low grade cells (I was told that this was because my cells had not grown back fully). If I had gone with the results from the 2nd opinion pap I would not have had the LEEP done & the cells could have developed into cancer as they were high grade!
Apparently a recurrence can be prevented by quitting smoking & having a well balanced diet rich in folic acid (raw green leafy veggies), vitamin A & beta carotene (orange & yellow fruits & veggies). Good luck with everything!
I was diagnosed with high grade cervical dysplasia (precancerous cells) in September '05. In November I had a colposcopy & at the same time I had a biopsy.
In January of 2006 I had a LEEP procedure to remove the high grade cells. The procedure started with the colposcopy & then a local anaesthetic was injected into the cervix & the LEEP (the size of a pencil) was inserted into me & the cells were scraped off - took 5 minutes). To tell you the truth, the biopsy was more uncomfortable than the LEEP - you have nothing to worry about, I was able to drive myself home after the procedure as I was not given a general. Was able to go back to work that day, had mild cramps (like period cramps), but not nearly as bad as ovarian cyst cramps were after my TVU. I just had a check-up in May and the high grade cells are gone & have not grown back. So from the time I was diagnosed to the time the cells were removed, 4 months had gone by.
Please note that if you are going to get a 2nd opinion you should make sure that 6 weeks have passed from your last pap before having another one done. Apparently it takes that long for your cervical cells to grow back properly - I went for a 2nd opinion & had a 2nd pap within 3 weeks of having my first pap & the 2nd pap came back showing only low grade cells (I was told that this was because my cells had not grown back fully). If I had gone with the results from the 2nd opinion pap I would not have had the LEEP done & the cells could have developed into cancer as they were high grade!
Apparently a recurrence can be prevented by quitting smoking & having a well balanced diet rich in folic acid (raw green leafy veggies), vitamin A & beta carotene (orange & yellow fruits & veggies). Good luck with everything!
You gotta love the "Hippocratic Oath" that doctors swear too but the majority do not follow....
Modern Text used in many Medical Schools
I swear to fulfill, to the best of my ability and judgment, this covenant:
I will respect the hard-won scientific gains of those physicians in whose steps I walk, and gladly share such knowledge as is mine with those who are to follow.
I will apply, for the benefit of the sick, all measures which are required, avoiding those twin traps of overtreatment and therapeutic nihilism.
I will remember that there is art to medicine as well as science, and that warmth, sympathy, and understanding may outweigh the surgeon's knife or the chemist's drug.
I will not be ashamed to say "I know not," nor will I fail to call in my colleagues when the skills of another are needed for a patient's recovery.
I will respect the privacy of my patients, for their problems are not disclosed to me that the world may know. Most especially must I tread with care in matters of life and death. If it is given me to save a life, all thanks. But it may also be within my power to take a life; this awesome responsibility must be faced with great humbleness and awareness of my own frailty. Above all, I must not play at God.
I will remember that I do not treat a fever chart, a cancerous growth, but a sick human being, whose illness may affect the person's family and economic stability. My responsibility includes these related problems, if I am to care adequately for the sick.
I will prevent disease whenever I can, for prevention is preferable to cure.
I will remember that I remain a member of society, with special obligations to all my fellow human beings, those sound of mind and body as well as the infirm.
If I do not violate this oath, may I enjoy life and art, respected while I live and remembered with affection thereafter. May I always act so as to preserve the finest traditions of my calling and may I long experience the joy of healing those who seek my help.
Written in 1964 by Louis Lasagna, Academic Dean of the School of Medicine at Tufts University, and used in many medical schools today.
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/doctors/oath_modern.html
Modern Text used in many Medical Schools
I swear to fulfill, to the best of my ability and judgment, this covenant:
I will respect the hard-won scientific gains of those physicians in whose steps I walk, and gladly share such knowledge as is mine with those who are to follow.
I will apply, for the benefit of the sick, all measures which are required, avoiding those twin traps of overtreatment and therapeutic nihilism.
I will remember that there is art to medicine as well as science, and that warmth, sympathy, and understanding may outweigh the surgeon's knife or the chemist's drug.
I will not be ashamed to say "I know not," nor will I fail to call in my colleagues when the skills of another are needed for a patient's recovery.
I will respect the privacy of my patients, for their problems are not disclosed to me that the world may know. Most especially must I tread with care in matters of life and death. If it is given me to save a life, all thanks. But it may also be within my power to take a life; this awesome responsibility must be faced with great humbleness and awareness of my own frailty. Above all, I must not play at God.
I will remember that I do not treat a fever chart, a cancerous growth, but a sick human being, whose illness may affect the person's family and economic stability. My responsibility includes these related problems, if I am to care adequately for the sick.
I will prevent disease whenever I can, for prevention is preferable to cure.
I will remember that I remain a member of society, with special obligations to all my fellow human beings, those sound of mind and body as well as the infirm.
If I do not violate this oath, may I enjoy life and art, respected while I live and remembered with affection thereafter. May I always act so as to preserve the finest traditions of my calling and may I long experience the joy of healing those who seek my help.
Written in 1964 by Louis Lasagna, Academic Dean of the School of Medicine at Tufts University, and used in many medical schools today.
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/doctors/oath_modern.html
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