HPV and its relation to anal cancer

A little bit of my history:

Almost a full year ago I was diagnosed with high risk HPV, had a colpo done and was then told that I had to have a LEEP to remove the "bad" cells (CIN2/3). About a month after I had the surgery and all went well, I even got clear margins. Fast forward 3 months and I'm getting my next pap it comes back HPV positive had a colpo and ECC was clear but had CIN1. And in another 3 months as scheduled I recieve my next pap- and again, no surprise here- still HPV positive. So, AGAIN, I receive another colpo and its ECC clear and CIN1. I was told by my doctor to "wait and see" what happens and am scheduled for another pap on june 2nd. And as always, I start to get scared and anxious about it wondering whats going to happen.

I would just like to know what the cells are doing...they are just sitting there and not really growing although i am at CIN1. And why 3 months after a LEEP do I already have abnormal cell growth?

Also, I have been quite worried and trying to read up on information about HPV and its related cancers. I figure if one part of my body has abnormal cell growth (my cerivx) from HPV what makes any other part of my body different where a penis has been inserted? I have had anal and oral sex with my boyfriend (without a condom) which makes me worry about the transmission and abnormal cell growth there aswell as on my cervix.

How many of you women have gotten tested for the virus in you anal cavity? How do they do it and what were your results. I asked my doctor and he said its not common and theres really no need. I dont know, I am a worry wart and I think I should get tested.

Any information from you ladies would be GREATLY appreciated!

Thanks in advance!
-Nikki

By mp327
Posted May 28, 2009 at 8:29 am
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Nikkigirl--

Most cases of anal cancer are HPV-related, approximately 85% of them. HPV can be detected in the anal canal by having an anal pap smear. However, this test is not yet widely used, so finding a doctor in your area to do the test may be a task. One does not have to have anal sex in order to have HPV in the anus or get anal cancer. I was dx'd with squamous cell cancer of the anal canal in June 2008 and have never had anal sex. With your history of cervical HPV and having had anal sex, I can understand your concern. I would definitely seek out a doctor who can do an anal pap. When caught early, anal dysplasia/cancer can be successfully treated. But trust me, treatment is not fun.

Martha

By mcnavarro33
Posted May 28, 2009 at 1:50 pm
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I wish I could help you more with the anal cancer thing...I have actually been wondering about this lately too.
As far as you're CIN coming back. I recommond that you detox your body and bust your immune system. Take vitamins, espcially Folic Acid and Vitamin C and multi vitamin if you can daily. Drink lots of green tea. Eat as much veggies and fruits as you possibly can a day. I drink a cup of New Chapter "Berry Green" daily. Stay away from dairy, red meat, sugars and fat. If you smoke stop immediately. If you drink try to stop or at least keep it to a minimum. Look into herbs that can help this condition. I take a daily tea of vitex, dandelion root, burdock root, skull cap, oat tops, licorise root, peppermint and calendula flowers. I also take a goldenseal tincture 4 or 5 days a week. I take sitz baths 2-3 times a week of Lady's Mantel, eucalyptis, yarrow and tea tree oil. I use castor oil packs on my stomach 2 times a week. And most importantly I use vaginal suppositories. Most of the time you have to get them through a practioner, but sometimes Herbalists at small shops can order them through companies. Or if that isn't an option you can soak a tampon in a brewed tea and use that instead.
There's things you can do to heal your body with more than just surgery. The reason you're CIN came back is because unforunately with surgery it doesn't heal anything, they are just cutting something out. You have to treat the virus (HPV) as well as the condition (cervical dysplyasia). You're CIN is mild now so I'm almost 100% positive if you did this all for a few months it would disappear. Do some research. I have just started going to see a Naturopathic to cure my CIN3 - her success rate with dysplyasia is 100%.
If you want more info feel free to add me as a friend but I think you are going to be just fine if you try to help your body heal.

By jamiegirl
Posted May 28, 2009 at 5:59 pm
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nikkigirl - search anal hpv - there are many discussions on it. I have anal hpv, most probably from anal sex. Can't write much now - gotta run - but do the search in here...we've been talking about it a lot!

By uphill
Posted May 30, 2009 at 12:38 pm
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mp327:

I was diagnosed Anal cancer Nov.08, Now wearing a Colostomy pouch. After my Abdomino-Perineal resection, I was told by my Oncologist that I do not need chemo and They couldn't do another radiation due to my prior pelvic radiation 15 yrs ago for cervical cancer, I was also told from pathology report that my margin is only 1mm from normal cell, The surgeon couldn't cut any further because it was right next to my bone. I am very worry about reoccurance of this cancer, Any suggestion that I should be aware of for the future?
Uphill

By mp327
Posted May 30, 2009 at 12:56 pm
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Uphill--

I am sorry to hear of your situation and all that you've been through. I do know that if a person has had pelvic radiation once, that's it, no more can be done on that area. That would necessitate the colostomy. I am sorry you are dealing with that, but I hope you have learned to live with it, as have many others. I would rank that as my #1 fear in life since having anal cancer. I'm sure you are constantly worried about the cancer being so close to your bone. I don't know much about how anal cancer would metastasize to bone, but it's probably possible. I hope that will not happen in your case.

I do not really have any good advice for you, except to continue to take good care of yourself with diet, supplements and exercise. Try to avoid stress and anything that would compromise your immune system. Since I have not experienced living with a colostomy, I'm not sure what things you can or can not eat. I'm sure you have figured all of that out by now. After my treatments ended, I asked my colorectal doctor what I should be eating--her answer was "anything you want!" Right, easy for her to say, it wasn't her guts that underwent 6 weeks of poisoning from chemo and being fried by radiation. So, I've had to learn by trial and error. If you are not taking supplements, it might be worth your while to find a naturopath who can steer you towards ones that will keep your immune system healthy.

I do wish you the very best in living with cancer and it's after effects. I know it's not easy and we all have constant worries, but enjoy every day, try to keep stress to a minimum and stay strong. Take care.

Martha

By uphill
Posted May 30, 2009 at 2:22 pm
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Thanks, Martha. Yes, It is always in the back of my mind. Feels like somebody took my joy away all of the sudden. Although I must fight, I do not allow this poison thoughts make me a total victim. I am 52yrs old, Still got a long way to go, I survived cervical cancer 15 yrs ago and was doing great until I got laid off last year, Starting a new job and be trained at this age is not easy, I was stressed out so bad.This is something I really want to share with you that is "stress" is the real enemy of this type of cancer, I quit my job after surgery, From now on just going to have real easy life. Thanks for your reply.
Uphill

By mp327
Posted May 30, 2009 at 4:17 pm
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Uphill--

Yes, I couldn't agree more, stress is a real demon when it comes to cancer. I try not to stress about things anymore, but it isn't always easy. I hope that you will be able to de-stress your life and keep cancer at bay. We are near in age--I am 55. One thing I am thankful for is the fact that I lived for 54 years before I had cancer--many are not so fortunate. If I had had to deal with it at a younger age, I don't know if I could have handled it or not.

Take care and keep in touch.

Martha

By emory1978
Posted June 24, 2009 at 11:47 pm
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Hi Folks,
I'm new here.

I was dx'd with AC, stage 3 in 1997. "If it was located elsewhere, it would be a skin cancer".

I was treated with surgery, radiation, and chemo in 1997. Radiation was hell.

Now, after a Right ankle injury recently, my right leg seems to have stopped working. Has anyone else had this problem? Could this be a re-occurence of the cancer in the bone? And, how would I know?

Thank you and please let me know if I need to provide more information.

By cattas
Posted June 25, 2009 at 8:06 am
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Nikki
I agree with mcnavarro33, your doctor has tried to help you with the dysplasia. Read up on what you can do about the virus thru lifestyle changes. It will not hurt you....there is so much out there. Do whatever you can so that this doesn't keep growing. its early on for you and you can help yourself. Believe it and feel it! Good luck.

By mp327
Posted June 25, 2009 at 8:57 am
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Emory 1978--

I'm sorry to hear that you also were dx'd with anal cancer, just as I was. You are right about the tx, especially the radiation part, being pure hell.

As to the problem you are now experiencing with your leg, if the leg is not "working" as you stated, could it perhaps be more related to nerve damage than a problem with your bone? I would definitely get a consult scheduled with your current physician, who can then refer you to the appropriate specialist. A bone scan would probably be the best test to have if mets to the bone are suspected. However, anal cancer is a squamous cell cancer, and it's my understanding that mets to the bones are pretty rare, but I don't know that it's impossible. The problem with your leg could very well be neurological and related to your ankle injury. It is also possible that the radiation tx you received for the anal cancer has weakened your bones and you are now experiencing osteoporosis. These are just a few ideas--I'm not a doctor, so I could be all wrong. But my original recommendation still stands--see your primary physician and get this checked out. Take care.

Martha

By keepyourlifesafe
Posted July 22, 2009 at 4:59 am
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OK guys. New at this. I was diagn. with HR dysplasia and CIN one a couple years ago. It's never gone away. Not once. Dealing with it since 2007. Four colposcopies later and a lot of $$$$ No doctor acted to concerned about it. (Went to two different ones. They all said, have sex - try to get pregnant (for the first time) as soon as you can. And that was it. Did they feel time was running out? If so, why didn't they say that? Well, I was too scared to try for a baby thinking about the surpressed immune thing. In the mean time, I wasn't proactive online, researching everything. I didn't feel that concerned. So, my partner and I tried anal sex for the first time, (since I was fearful of vagina.) No doc told me to be careful or protect myself or anything...simply that we shared the virus and so we could continue and try for a baby. Anyway, now I am freaking out and it's been for almost 2 years since the anal sex. It was unprotected and I obviously had the infection. IF JUST 1 DOC would have told me it isn't in other areas unless you put it there, I would have NEVER had anal sex especially unprotected. I just didn't it was something my body wouldn't just get over. That's what the dos said. I feel a bit cheated, I am someone who will follow the rules if I'm told what's best. WHY didn't anyone tell me to be safe? I know, maybe it's something I should have just know, but wow....now I am really scared!!!! So, wanting to get checked, I called to go to a clinic where I move to and they said very rudely "we don't do those" meaning anal paps. I called many places and no one would hardly talk to me about it. So, here I sit 2 years wondering. In the mean time I now have iching, pain, constipation that has recently turned to diarehha. Terrified I've waited too long. I'm calling PParenthood this week to see if they do it? Does anyone know how long the cancer takes on average to become full blown? :( I can't sleep this is seriously making me sick every day!

By learningtoughlessons
Posted July 22, 2009 at 6:07 am
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mcnavarro33 ,
Thanks for the great advice on improving immune system. I'm afraid it's a bit hard to do ALL as what you suggested but I'll certainly try to follow. You sound very positive and strong. I wonder what kind of treatment you're going through with your Naturopathic(sorry, I don't even know what this word means...). Is that effective?
I've been detected HPV postive since last January but I simply didn't do anything about it... and it never goes away. Done 3 bioposy over the time and the latest one shows CIN 2. I was told it's pre-canceous condition. I'm going to have LEEP treatment next week. Over the past 2 years, I've been losing weight ,having very little period (1-2 day bleeding only), and constant depression. Now I begin to wonder whether it's the cause or result of the virus/CIN.
My friends told me to keep a positive mood and strengthen my immune system, leaving the disease to the doctor's hand. I begin to run treadmill now and force myself to eat more. When depression attacks me again I'm going to say No to it. After all the scary moment I've been through recently I feel like stronger.

By jamiegirl
Posted July 22, 2009 at 6:59 am
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keepingyourlifesafe- absokutely get it checked. Google UCSF Anal Neoplasia and they can tell you if there is a doctor near you who will do the anal pap. The link I had to it seems to not be working anymore. Anyway, that is how I found my doc in NYC who specializes in that kind of thing. You need an anal HPV test as well. I last had anal sex almost 6 years ago. I was diagnosed with HPV in 2005, when my gyno started testing for it as part of the annual. She had never mentioned any other part of the body hpv could affect either. It was my own curiosity that made me question the anal area. I had my anal pap and hpv test a few months ago....normal pap but positive for hpv. I am having a high resolution anoscopy in August. It's like a colposcopy but for the anal area.

By keepyourlifesafe
Posted August 17, 2009 at 1:23 pm
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Jamie, thank you for your information. I need to get busy...no one is going to look out for us more then ourselves. Good luck to you with your anoscopy. Let us know how things come out. Good luck to Nikki and everyone else too. This HPV virus so much more then I would have imagined. It has consumed my life.

By jamiegirl
Posted August 17, 2009 at 2:29 pm
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keepyourlifesafe-

I had my hr anoscopy at the begining of August and everything was fine. I have to go back in 6 months for a follow up pap. I know this can consume one's life, but you have too live too!!! Just be proactive and keep up with your checkups, eat well, and hopefully you will not have any problems. Good luck!

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