Hey Bianca,

I understand your frustration and confusion. As best I know, carcinoma
in-situ is cacer. Carcinoma, means cancer. In-situ means, basically,
localized. So, your diagnosis means that there are cancerous cells on your
cervix, but no where else. This is actually great news, as far as diagnosis
goes. (Although I am sure you don't feel like you have received great
news!) Cervical cancer usually progresses very slowly and has pre-cancerous
stages as well. This is why it is so important for women to get pap tests,
which can detect cervical cancer before it is even cancer.

Dysplasia is pre-cancer. Cancer is basically caused when normal cells, in
this case cells on your cervix mutate or change. This mutation causes the
cells to reproduce and grow at abnormal rates. When you get a pap smear,
they look at the cells on the sample to see if they have mutated. If there
is a difference in the cells, then whoever is reading the sample describes
the difference. Dysplasia, like I said, is pre-cancer. Dysplasia
progresses slowly, gradually changing into cancer. The severe to moderate
in your diagnosis is a description that says the pre-cancerous cells have
changed from normal cervical cell a severe or moderate amount. After this,
I believe is when the cells become cancerous. Once a woman has cancerous
cells on her cervix, the usual progression, (as I understand it) is first
carcinoma in-situ. Once the cancerous cells have progressed beyond the
cervix, the diagnosis changes.

Carcinoma in-situ is virtually 100% curable, and so that is why some people
say that it is not cancer. This is understandable, especially when you see
what some other women whose disease has spread beyond the cervix have to go
through. In my experience, however, no matter what the cure rate is or how
simple the prescribed treatment, we all go through some of the same feelings
and difficulties. Especially in the beginning, we are all faced with
insecurities and fears. I remember being affraid that I wouldn't be able to
have children. I felt like my womanhood and my sexuality were under fire.
Even now, I have pap smears every 6 months, and that 2 week wait for results
in long and harrowing.

You should find comfort in the idea that if you do what you need to do (have
the precancerous and cancerous cells removed, and continue to have regular
pap smears) you will be able to live a long and healthy life. However, you
should also remember that you have a right to your feelings and fears about
cancer. No matter how good the diagnosis, you are still dealling with the
scary and terrible journey that is cancer. Don't feel that you need to
minimize your feelings because other people say you don't have cancer. If
you were to forego treatment or stop getting regular check-ups, you could
have more invasive cancer in the future.

I hope I have helped explain things to you rather than just confuse you even
more.
Lj

Three grand essentials to happiness in this life are something to do,
something to love, and something to hope for. -Jose Addison




----Original Message Follows----
From: bianca wittig <bianca_wittig@...>
Reply-To: Cervical-Cancer@yahoogroups.com
To: Cervical-Cancer@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [Cervical-Cancer] Re: New member....
Date: Thu, 31 Jul 2003 15:33:18 -0700 (PDT)

thank you lisa-jean. When i first signed onto this group i had a couple
people tell me that what i have is not cancer. heres what my results were :
carcinoma in situ, serve dysplasia, high grade sqamous lesions. carcinoma is
cancer, but everyone kept telling me i don't have cancer. so i am a little
confused. do i or don't i have cancer...not sure. but with my results from
my pap, i would think yes. plus it DID say "carcinmoa in situ".

Lisa-Jean Sylvia <lj_saffi@...> wrote:Hello Bianca,

Sorry to hear that you are dealling with all this now. However, I wanted to
let you know that it might not be as terrible as you fear. I know that when
I heard the words cervical cancer, I freaked out. I was originally
diagnosed in September of 2000 with Carcinoma In Situ. The journey was a
long one, and often frightening. However, looking back I don't think the
experience was as bad as the image I had in my mind when I first heard the
word cancer.

I have had at least 10 colposcopies in the years since my initial diagnosis.
One experience was terrible, but I have decided that was because of the
insensitive and terrible doctor. The rest of my experiences, however, were
relatively easy. Usually some cramping (if a biopsy is taken), and maybe
some bleeding. By far, I think that the WORST part of all of this is the
emotional aspect. Try to surround yourself with good friends and supportive
family, and of course we are here too. Remember that you can get through
this and then just take it a day at a time.

Keep in touch with the group,
Lj

Three grand essentials to happiness in this life are something to do,
something to love, and something to hope for. -Jose Addison




----Original Message Follows----
From: "bianca_wittig" <bianca_wittig@...>
Reply-To: Cervical-Cancer@yahoogroups.com
To: Cervical-Cancer@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [Cervical-Cancer] Re: New member....
Date: Sat, 26 Jul 2003 16:11:27 -0000

Hi Veronica. The same thing is happening to me right now. But my paps
always came out abnormal. carcinoma in cita means that there is
cancer, but as far as they can tell it is just sitting there on your
cervix. the colposcopy and biopsy will tell you how far its gone. I
go for 2 biopsies and a colposcopy next week.


--- In Cervical-Cancer@yahoogroups.com, Veronica Chamberlin
<vchamberlin@s...> wrote:
> Hi,
> I'm wondering if anyone can help me understand my colposcopy
today....
> Last week, I had an abnormal pap so I was scheduled for a
colposcopy today. I was stage 3. Today I had the colposcopy and a
biopsy was also performed as the OB said there was white? on my
cervix. OUCH! My stomach hurts just thinking about it!! I now have to
wait three weeks for the pathology results. He said it may be
Carcinoma In Situ. Could that be cancer? Has this happened to anyone
else? I'm 30yrs old with three children and I haven't had an abnormal
pap since 1991. Then it was mild so no follow-up was required.
> I am desperate for any information you could share.
> thank you!!
> Veronica





Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/

_________________________________________________________________
MSN 8 helps eliminate e-mail viruses. Get 2 months FREE*.
http://join.msn.com/?page=features/virus


Yahoo! Groups SponsorADVERTISEMENT

Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service.



---------------------------------
Do you Yahoo!?
Yahoo! SiteBuilder - Free, easy-to-use web site design software

_________________________________________________________________
MSN 8 helps eliminate e-mail viruses. Get 2 months FREE*.
http://join.msn.com/?page=features/virus