Treatments Options For Getting Rid Of Precancer
Posted Under: Disease
When this process involves the cervix it is a different matter than it is elsewhere in the body. These changes are often caused by HPV and the condition may remain this way for long periods of time. Less often they do progress on to cancer and they also spontaneously regress. The problem is we have no way of knowing what they will do so the patient has to be watched closely.
Still, only about 25% of severe dysplasia will progress to cancer. That’s right. Even if you don’t have a cone biopsy, you chance of not getting cervical cancer is 75%. Still, a 25% risk of cancer is pretty high. You definitely want the cone biopsy.
Why are you even thinking about hysterectomy? You can have multiple cone biopsies before you will need a hysterectomy.
The cone biopsy is like 95% curative if they remove the entire lesion. It’s still about 80% curative EVEN IF THEY DON’T REMOVE ALL THE DYSPLASIA!!! Usually your immune system kicks in and takes care of the rest.
Make sure you with your doctor how much cervix she is going to remove. They can remove 1mm to 2 cm or even more. It’s your choice whether to be conservative or agresssive. You can remove just the worst areas, or ask her to make sure she gets it all. The risk of leaving some behind obviously raises your chance of recurrence but decreases that this will cause any pregnancy complications. Taking less cervix also means you can have more cone biopsies. Taking more raises your risk of preterm birth more (though the increased risk is slight) but increases the chance that the cone biopsy will cure you.
The odds are in your favor for this being the only treatment you ever need. Take this one step at a time. No need to even consider hysterectomy.
The other option in to look into a clincal trial. They are testing a theraputic vaccine that boosts your immune system and makes the pre-cancer regress. No removal of any of your cervix.
You should not need a hysterectomy and if your OB/GYN has said that is the next step you should get another opinion. Most patients with your condition regress with ablative therapy. You should also know fertility drops dramatically for a woman at 30.
