What does it mean if I was told I have level one mild dysplasia? Is it really cancer?

Question

How much time after being diagnosed do I have before I have full blown cancer.

Answer 1

Cervical dysplasia is a term used to describe the appearance of abnormal cells on the surface of the cervix, the lowest part of the uterus. These changes in cervical tissue are classified as mild, moderate, or severe. While dysplasia itself does not cause health problems, it is considered to be a precancerous condition. Left untreated, dysplasia sometimes progresses to an early form of cancer known as cervical carcinoma in situ, and eventually to invasive cervical cancer.

It can take 10 years or longer for cervical dysplasia to develop into cancer. Dysplasia can be detected from a Pap smear, the single most important step that a woman can take to prevent cervical cancer.

Mild dysplasia is the most common form, and up to 70% of these cases regress on their own (i.e., the cervical tissue returns to normal without treatment). Moderate and severe dysplasia are less likely to self-resolve and have a higher rate of progression to cancer. The greater the abnormality, the higher the risk for developing cervical cancer.

Detecting and treating dysplasia early is essential to prevent cancer. For this reason, most physicians quickly remove suspicious cervical lesions and require frequent Pap smears to monitor for recurrences.

Incidence and Prevalence
Every year, between 250,000 and 1 million women in the United States are diagnosed with cervical dysplasia. While it can occur at any age, the peak incidence is in women between the ages of 25 to 35. Most dysplasia cases can be cured with proper treatment and follow-up. Without treatment, 30% to 50% may progress to invasive cancer.

Risk Factors

Risk factors increase the frequency of occurrence. Several risk factors have been linked to dysplasia including multiple sexual partners, early onset of sexual activity, cigarette smoking, and sexually transmitted diseases, especially human papillomavirus (HPV) and HIV infection.

HPV Infection
Eighty to ninety percent of women with cervical dysplasia have an HPV infection. Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a group of more than 80 different viral strains. About one-third are sexually transmitted, and some types cause genital warts. HPV infects about 25 million people in the United States, and most of the viral strains are harmless.
However, the NIH Consensus Conference on Cancer of the Cervix and the World Health Organization (WHO) have concluded that several strains of HPV cause cervical cancer. The strains found most frequently in precancerous lesions and in cervical cancer are types 16 and 18. Other strains with high malignant potential include 31, 33, 35, 39, 45, 51, 52, 56, 58, and 68, and together, they account for almost 90% of cancerous lesions and dysplasia in HPV infections.

Most HPV infections resolve within 6 months and many women develop immunity. HPV often does not cause symptoms. One study found that nearly one-half of the women infected with HPV had no symptoms and a person may not even know that they are infected. Untreated HPV can result in recurrent and persistent cervical dysplasia and many experts believe that HPV is the main cause for changes in cervical cells that result in dysplasia.


HIV Infection
Women who are infected with HIV are at a greater risk for developing dysplasia. The risk appears to increase as the number of CD4 cells (cells that play a critical role in immune responses) decreases. HIV-positive women also have a higher rate of persistent HPV infections and may be infected with the strains that are associated with severe dysplasia and cervical cancer. Women whose immune systems are suppressed for other reasons, such as by drugs that prevent rejection of organ transplants, are also at greater risk. This suggests that women with weakened immunity are more likely to be infected with HPV and to have a persistent infection that does not resolve on its own.

Smoking
Nicotine and cotinine, chemicals produced from tobacco, have been found in the cervical cells of women who smoke. Men who smoke also excrete these chemicals in their semen, which comes in contact with the cervix during sexual intercourse. Tobacco chemicals may cause alterations in the cells that lead to dysplasia.

High-risk sexual behavior
Having multiple sex partners, having sex with a man who has had multiple sex partners, and engaging in sexual intercourse before the age of 18 are linked to cervical dysplasia. Women in these categories have a greater chance of being infected with HPV or HIV, especially if they do not use a barrier contraceptive such as a condom. These infections put them at higher risk for developing cervical dysplasia.

DES Exposure
Between 1938 and 1971, approximately 5 million pregnant women were prescribed diethylstilbestrol (DES), a synthetic estrogen thought to help prevent miscarriage. Its use was discontinued when researchers found it to be ineffective and dangerous. The daughters of women who took DES have a higher risk for developing rare cancer of the vagina or cervix, called clear cell adenocarcinoma, and abnormalities of the cervix, vagina, and uterus.

Poor Nutrition
There is growing evidence that certain vitamins, such as folic acid, play a role in cervical health. A poor diet may also cause the immune system to weaken, decreasing the body's ability to fight viruses such as HPV.

Oral Contraceptives
Some research shows that women who use oral contraceptives may be at a higher risk for developing cervical dysplasia. However, it is not clear if the risk is directly attributable to the contraceptives themselves. One reason may be that oral contraceptives interfere with folic acid metabolism in the cells around the cervix, and folic acid may help prevent or improve cervical dysplasia. Another reason may be that women using this method of birth control may have increased exposure to sexually transmitted diseases, compared to those who rely on a barrier method such as a condom.

Answer 2

My doctor told me that CIN 1 dysplasia only becomes cancerous about 10% of the time (if it progresses to CIN 2, that figure goes up to about 45%.) I don't know for sure how accurate those figures are, but I asked him point blank and that's what he told me.

Many, many cases of mild dysplasia will resolve on their own as your immune system responds to the abnormality. You can, at this stage, keep monitoring it with frequent Pap smears. Or you can opt for cryotherapy or LEEP procedures, both of which excise a portion of the cervix to remove the abnormal area.

Mild dysplasia is scary, but it is not a diagnosis of cancer! Nor is it a one-way ticket to cancer in the future. Talk to your doctor about your concerns; he or she will tell your their opinion on whether/how it should be treated and will let you know how often they want to check for changes.

Answer 3

sorry to hear that. was this your first bad PAP? level 1 is NOT cancer. this is a pre cancerous condition that could be a indicator that you could get cancer. the DR. should of done a test called a colpo,which is just taking a vinegar solution to show any white areas on your cervix, then they cut a small part of it off to test. i found it uncomfortable but tolerable. if needed they might need to do a Leap operation or a Cone Biopsy. both are out-patient and only a day or two to recover. if after this they find more bad spots, they might want to do more drastic things. at level one, you should not worry right now, but pay attention to anything unusual down there. pain, discharge,etc. and get a PAP at least every 6 months til you get 3 results with no findings.
for me, i had 3 COPO's-one Leap-and 3 PAPS the first year. finally i had a voluntary hysterectomy because i was done having kids. i have been tested,and all has been good for 5 years. my friend was diagnosed at the same time as i was (roughly within the same month) and she put of the COPO for months. she later went in for it but it was too late- she had many tumors and full blown cancer. she passed away just after her 29th birthday. 3 weeks after mine. so....for my 30th birthday present for myself i got it all out.

Answer 4

This isnt cancer. IT simply means that you have abnormal cells. It may develop further or may not. Be sure to get regular check ups and paps so that your doc can monitor the changes in cells. Don't fret- it is ok. Continue to live your best life. :)

Answer 5

It means that you have some abnormal cells that they will probably want to bring you in in 3 months or so to recheck...but it is not cancer. I had that once and went back and was fine.

Answer 6

It means you have hpv causing abnormal cells its write common and low grade out mild cells normally heal themselves

Answer 7

Obviously some physician has given you this information and obviously you need to call that person and ask them this question.