Potential Cancer Cells?

[nobita]

I live in Japan with my Japanese girlfriend who is 23. She came back from the gynecologist and explained her situation to me as that "there are Ⅰ, Ⅱ, Ⅲa, Ⅲb, Ⅳ, Ⅴ cells. Ⅰ and Ⅱ are no problem. Ⅳ and Ⅴ are bad. it means u have cancer. Ⅲb is not as bad as Ⅳ and Ⅴ, but can be bad. and im Ⅲa. its not bad. but can be bad. so I need to go to the gynecologist for a check every two or three months."

I've tried been searching the internet for more information on what this actually is, and everything I find related to these stages is for cancer itself. I can't find anything on 'possible-cancer' stages. Is there anyone who could help me by possibly providing some more information for me? Thanks.

[DrNoopurMD]

Hi,

Generally there are 4 stages of cancer but it also depends on exactly what type of cancer it is. Stage 1 is small cancer usually contained within the organ of origin. Stage 2 means a larger cancer but localised with/without cancer cells in nearby lymph node. Stage 3 is larger cancer which has spread to all the lymph nodes in the area. Stage 4 is when cancer has spread to distant organs like liver, lung etc.
http://www.cancerhelp.org.uk/help/default.asp?page=3779
Hope this is helpful!

[nobita]

Thanks for the reply, but this is what I am confused about. She says it is not cancer, that it is only cancer beginning from stage iv. is she wrong and should she be doing something more than going back for another check up in 2-3 months?

[DrNoopurMD]

Hi,

Where exactly is this cancer? The stages vary from one cancer to the other. This was just a broad classification. Please let me know what type of cancer is it? Then I will be in a better position to answer your question.

[nobita]

The only information given to her was what I posted. I don't believe she has cancer yet, cause she said that if her cells were at Stage IV or V, that means she has cancer. She got her information from the gynecologist. But I'm having trouble finding information on potential vaginal cancerous cells. According to the classification she gave, it would seem as if she already has cancer, but she insists she doesn't. Only that it could be come cancer. If that makes any sense.  Sorry for the lack of information.

[DrNoopurMD]

Hi,

Here is the classification for vaginal cancer:
Stage 0: some abnormal cells are present in the vagina which can become cancerous.
Stage 1: cancer has formed but restricted to vagina
Stage 2: cancer has spread to the surrounding tissue
Stage 3: cancer has spread to the lymph nodes
Stage 4A: cancer has spread to lymph nodes and either the lining of bladder/rectum or beyond pelvis
Stage 4B: cancer has spread to distant organs like lung

According to the classification only stage 0 is precancerous or potentially cancerous. All stages beyond stage 0 indicate cancer. Hope this helps.

[nobita]

Thanks again for your help.

I got a little bit more information. She was given a cytodiagnosis test. I hope I am using that word correctly.

Apparently the cytodiagnosis is broken down into classes: class i, class ii, class iiia, class iiib, class iv, and class v.

Her result was class iiia. Again I am having trouble finding information on this, however. Is this a situation that should cause worry and is it possible for cells to drop in class?

[keyzersoce]

Hi.
After having bladder tumors removed five years ago, I get a regular cytodiagnosis(or cytology) exam every three months to check for recurrence. Cyto is the prefix meaning "cell" and the test is just that: examining the cells for the presence of any disease. Often, a doctor may suspect a patient might be prone to contract some illness and orders this test to check to see if the disease is present before symptoms appear. I would have your girlfriend ask her doctor what he suspects because he is ordering these tests to check for the presence of some disease.
Stay well.