Cervical Polyp & Relationship to Cervical Cancer

**mom2one** · 06-13-2011 12:03 AM

I'm new here! I'm looking for a discussion and maybe support from others who have questions, or experiences that are similar.

I'm 48 years old, healthy and active. My periods used to be extremely regular, every 28 days, but they became more irregular, and much heavier, about a 2 years ago. I've been told by doctors that is a sign of perimenopause.

I also have had lower back and hip pain for the last several years, which seems to be getting more severe. It started after I had injured my back at work, and that's what I've always associated it with. But my gut feeling is this is connected to something gynecological. It only hurts when I'm standing up for more than 10 or 15 minutes and not moving - if I'm exercising or running, it gets much better and sometimes doesn't hurt at all.

I had an abnormal Pap a few years ago, just mild dysplasia. I had a colposcopy done, and no abnormalities were found. I had a normal Pap 18 months later, no dysplasia, but there was a little blood in it. As I was still on my period, which could have explained the blood, I had it redone a second time a week later. That one was normal again, but again showed a tiny amount of blood in the sample. My gyn didn't think that was too concerning, but she offered me an ultrasound for reassurance. I did not get the ultrasound, because it didn't seem necessary. That was a year ago.

This past week, during my Pap smear (done by a registered nurse practitioner at my GP's office), I was diagnosed with a cervical polyp. I'm going to my ob-gyn to have it removed next week. I've never had a polyp before. I have been searching for information related to cervical polyps and lower back pain, but I cannot find any information where lower back pain is a symptom of cervical polyps.

I do not have pain or bleeding after intercourse or bowel movements, which are supposed to be symptoms of polyps. I did have a small amount of bright red blood from my vagina, after a bowel movement just a few days before my Pap smear. But it was the first time that had ever happened.

Because of the back pain, and the fact that all the articles I can find about cervical polyps mentions a slight chance of cervical cancer, and articles about cervical cancer all mention lower back pain, I am extremely worried. The polyp removal will include testing the removed polyp for cancer cells, so I should know more soon, but in the meantime I'd like to find out if anyone has any other ideas to offer or resources where I can read more about this.

Background: I've been sexually active since I was 19. I've had only 2 partners, my first boyfriend and my husband of more than 25 years. I took birth control pills for 10 years from age 19 to about age 30, no birth control pills after that. I've never had HPV symptoms, but I've also never had an HPV test, so I guess I can't rule out the idea that my first boyfriend could have given me HPV. I've had one pregnancy, carried to term at age 40. (Hence my handle, mom2one.)

Thank you for listening.

Mom2One

**CHANDLERS WISH** · 06-13-2011 03:01 AM

Welcome to the Forum.

I always think if your gut feelings says you are not sure of what you have been diagnosed, then seek a second opinion.

This is difficult I am 48

And, I didn't have heavy bleeding rather skipped 4 months started, skipped 4 months and now back to normal again...Are we, can we all be different? And, in that can what you read be about others whom are different from you?

We can drive ourselves nuts from reading, I've been there to over matters...

Slight chance, cervical cancer .... Alot of things can give us slight chances sweet but again, I've had that too and in today's age, given the stages there are, it's more than manageable and a Pap Smear will always detect if there is a problem there so please don't stress.

I can't answer further to your questions Mom2one, but I am sure others will answer as well

CW

**ItsASecret** · 06-13-2011 07:25 AM

Unless a doctor says yes you have cancer you do not have cancer. A polyp is extremely common, back pain is extremely common. Trying to find a single source that connects the two is not something a doctor would advise you do because the internet is riddled with false information. A person with lung cancer coughs, but so does a person with a regular cold. The internet will try to make it sound like having a cough means you have cancer, and that is what doctors want people to stay away from...the harsh over generalized symptoms that the internet gives rather than their expert medical opinion. Same sort of idea applies to cervical cancer, just because you have a polyp does not mean you have cancer in the same way that some back pain does not mean you have cancer. Listen to the doctors, they know what they are doing. It is real slim to have cancer from a diagnosis of a single polyp and normal pap smears for years prior. The back pain itself is likely a different issue which can be addressed with the doctor, you may be referred to a chiropractor in order to help ease the pains you have been experiencing.

**mom2one** · 06-13-2011 10:31 AM

Thanks ItsASecret - I do appreciate where you're coming from. My husband had a very rare cancer for his age and the doctors - up until he was diagnosed - were 100% wrong about the cause of his (mild, vague) symptoms. So I'm probably more paranoid about this stuff than the average person.

The good thing about this cervical stuff is that an exam and a colposcopy will reveal what's going on. I'll try to follow up here, so if I get good news maybe someone else who's worried in the same situation can find some reassurance.

**mom2one** · 06-14-2011 06:23 PM

Hi to anyone who may be reading this. I just got my Pap results back. Here is what it says:
Epithelial cell abnormality
Atypical squamous cells
Cannot exclude HSIL (ASC-H)
HPV Test Ordered.
Recommend colposcopy (ASCCP, 2007).

I've had a colposcopy before, so I'm comfortable with that procedure. I've already done a little research, but wanted to report this here so that I can follow up with what it all means. I should be hearing from my OB-Gyn tomorrow and will post more after that or after I do more research.