I have abnormal cells (pre cancerous)... Will going to the solarium make it advance faster?

Question

I've recently had laser surgery on my cervix to get rid of the CIN3 cells that i had... I have to go back in a few months to see how well it's healed but i've recently started going back to the solarium and am worried that this may cause the cells to not heal as well as they would if i was not going??? Can anyone please help???

Answer 1

Unless your tanning naked with your legs wide open and a speculum inside you, ain't no way the (artificial) sun can shine on your cervix and cause a problem with cancer. However, any kind of tanning causes damage to your skin, and even tanning bed rays can cause the changes in your skin that lead to skin cancer. Think of the cervical thing as a warning and stop messing with your body.

Answer 2

Pre=cancerous cells are not called HPV, HPV is just one of the infections that can cause these cells. Your body is constantly fighting off infection and abnormalities. It is totally possible that you had an abnormal pap several years ago, and now everything is back to normal. If it was serious, you would have needed to have colposcopy biopsies to remove more cells, and monitor the abnormalities If you are concerned, you should ask your doctor to let you read the cytological pathology reports. The report should include a statement as to the quality of the specimen that was collected. If it is stated that the correct cells were not sampled, you need to be retested. Some GP's have not been trained on how to do a proper collection. You also have the right to have your slides re-read for a second opinion at the laboratory where they were sent, or at a different laboratory of your choosing.

Answer 3

what is a solarium, would that be a tanning booth?
Ask your doctor.

It is not the cells that will heal, it is the area from which they were removed. There should be no more cancer cells and I would think that sun exposure, if that is what you mean, would have no impact on it.
Again, ask your doctor.
I had cell dysplasia of the cervix many years ago, had cryosurgery and have had no further problems.

Answer 4

Hey babe, tanning shouldn't mess with your cervix healing. The lesions they found on you cervix are pretty common among women now days, but still need attention. I'm glad you got checked out when you did. Just take it easy in the sex department and all that jazz. Let your body try to catch up with what's going on. It's tough! Keep your head up. You'll be fine.

Answer 5

Avoid the solarium since it releases a lot of UV rays which can knock out a molecule and speed up the progression of cancerous cells.

Answer 6

solarium as in heat..hot?
Let me tell you a few facts that I know. ....men who wear jockeys get testicular cancer and their sperm is not as healthy due to the testicles up close to the body where they are kept too warm.....that's why God put them on the outside of the body ..TO KEEP COOL
women who sleep under a heating blanket get breast cancer...also women who wear bras that are way too tight....God put them on the outside of the body to KEEP COOL
When we go to the beach or tan in a machine we get skin cancer why? because God made our skin to fry under certain conditions so we need to KEEP COOL
So if you are keeping your body too hot you might be just killing yourself.

Answer 7

solarium?? you mean like a tanning salon or something? that will only affect your skin, not your cervix

Answer 8

Cancer occurs when genes that are damaged or faulty cause cells to multiply uncontrollably and form a mass (sometimes known as a tumour). Cancer cells can break away from the mass (or tumour) and travel via the bloodstream or lymphatic system to different parts of the body and form new masses there. Cancer can cause premature death because these masses of cells stop parts of the body from working properly.

Treatments

Some cancers can be cured if the tumour is detected and surgically removed before the cancer cells spread. Chemotherapy (anti-cancer drugs) and radiotherapy (radiation treatment) can also cure cancer, by killing cancer cells or stopping them from multiplying. Often these treatments are most effective when used together.

New ways of treating cancer are always being developed and tested. For example, tamoxifen is a highly effective form of endocrine therapy that has been the mainstay in reducing mortality from breast cancer for over two decades. Newer endocrine agents known as aromatase inhibitors are now proving even better. Trastuzumab, an antibody, is showing great promise in the management of breast cancer.

In the future, we will see increasing development of therapies that specifically target cancer. They will block cancer cells' signaling pathways, disrupt their blood supply, correct genetic defects which cause cancer and assist the body's immune system to fight cancer.

Prevention

More than half of all cancers are preventable. Almost another third of cancers are thought to be due to an unhealthy diet. Another third are due to cigarette smoking. Ten per cent of cancers are melanoma: a potentially fatal skin cancer but which is mostly preventable. If you follow these recommendations you will reduce your risk of cancer

Eat plenty of plant foods: at least two servings of fruit and fives serves of vegetables per day and several serves of such foods as breads, cereals, grain products, pasta and rice
Eat low-fat foods. Don t eat too much meat, especially high-fat meat
Exercise for 30 minutes or more on most days of the week. A higher level of exercise, such as 60 minutes or 30 minutes high intensity, may have additional benefit
Drink alcohol in moderation: no more than 1 standard glass per day for women and 2 standard glasses per day for men
Don't smoke. Quit can help you: call 131 848.
Protect yourself against ultraviolet radiation in sunlight by wearing a broad-brimmed hat, long-sleeved shirt, sunglasses and sunscreen, and by staying in the shade where possible. Avoid solarium tanning machines, which also transmit harmful UV radiation.
Early detection

Many cancers can be cured if they are treated early. Two federally-funded screening programs are in place in Australia, which help to detect cancers at a stage when they can be effectively treated.

The national breast screening program can detect cancerous lumps in the breast before they can be seen or felt. Women over the age of 50 are advised to have a mammogram every two years. Some women who have risk factors for breast cancer (for example, a personal or family history of breast cancer) should have mammograms more frequently.

The national Pap testing program can detect changes to cervical cells that could lead to cervical cancer. All women should have a Pap test every two years. Women who have a history of cervical cell abnormalities should have more frequent Pap tests.

A national bowel screening program will be implemented from mid-2006 following successful pilot studies. Australians turning 55 or 65 will be invited to participate in screening by completing a simple test in the privacy of their own homes and mailing it for analysis. An evaluation in 2008 will guide future development of the program.

Informal screening for skin cancers and prostate cancers is undertaken every day in every general practitioners surgery.

Advice
The Cancer Council Helpline is a free, confidential telephone information and support service run by Cancer Councils in each state and territory. Specially trained staff can answer questions about all aspects of cancer, including prevention, early detection and treatment. They can also assist with practical and emotional support and advise callers about specific services appropriate to their needs and location. Information about cancer can also be mailed to callers. Most states provide resources suitable for teachers, students or people seeking general information, as well as patients and their families. Health professionals may also use the service to access up-to-date information or to help patients. Call the Cancer Council Helpline: 13 11 20 (local call from anywhere in Australia) between 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday. Some states have extended hours, some have health professionals on staff and some have multilingual services.
Every time you expose your skin to the sun or a solarium, you add to your total lifetime dose of ultraviolet (UV)radiation. Over time, this damage adds up. Compare the skin on the back of your hand with the inside of yourthigh and you’ll see what years of sun has done to your skin. Most of the differences you see—for example,freckles, blotches, wrinkles—are the result of exposure to UV radiation. In fact, even a tan, far from protectingyour skin, is a sign of skin damage! Apart from making you look older than you are, exposure to UV radiationincreases your risk of skin cancer.Keep your skin looking young and healthyObviously, the best way is to limit exposure to the sun (and avoid other sources of UV radiation). A good way is toreduce the amount of time you spend in the sun in the middle of the day—this is the period when UV radiation is at itsmost damaging.If you are out in the sun, whatever the time of day, take a few simple steps to protect your skin. Use clothing and a hat—preferably one with a broad brim, of at least 8 cms or bucket style with a downward sloping brim of at least 6cm. Youcan also apply a broad spectrum, waterproof SPF 30+ sunscreen (SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor) for areas thatcan’t be covered by clothing, including your face. Never rely on sunscreen alone—no sunscreen provides completeprotection from UV radiation.Solariums, just like the sun, use UV radiation. This means that using a solarium will increase the likelihood of wrinkles,not to mention a greater risk of skin cancer. Avoid solarium use if you want to save your skin.Applying sunscreenTo be effective sunscreen must be applied correctly and combined with other forms of protection.Apply liberally on all exposed areas of skin before you apply moisturiser or make-up and at least 20 minutes before goingout in the sun. This allows the sunscreen to bind to the skin for maximum effectiveness.Most sunscreens use a moisturiser such as sorbolene as the base for the cream and are easily absorbed. Moisturiserscontaining sunscreen are also effectively absorbed—look for those with sunscreens of at least SPF 15+ (althoughpreferably 30+) and ideally broad spectrum ones (which protect against both UVAand UVB).Sunscreen should be reapplied regularly, at least every two hours - or more frequently if it is likely to have been washed orwiped off or if you have been perspiring.Re-applying sunscreen over make-upObviously, re-applying sunscreen over make-up is a little tricky. One way around this is to select a make-up base orpowder with a high SPF for the times you plan to be outside for long periods. This way when you reapply your make-upyou will also be reapplying your sunscreen.And don’t forget your lips—there are plenty of good lipsticks or lip balms with high SPF ratings. Many cosmeticcompanies produce a range of products containing sunscreen.SolariumsSunbeds emit ultraviolet UVAand UVB. In general sunbeds predominantly emit UVAradiation which is less damaging thanUVB radiation. However UVA penetrates the top layer of skin and causes damage to the lower layers. This causes skin toage prematurely. Other effects include fragility and scarring and in the longer term photoageing. Photoageing includeswrinkling and loss of skin elasticity that is generally irreversible without cosmetic surgery. High doses of UVA can alsocause sunburn and are believed to play a part in causing skin cancer.Tanning, Ageing and BeautyFor further information call the Cancer Helpline on 13 11 20 or the Quitline on 13 7848The Cancer Council ACT • 5 Richmond Avenue, Fairbairn ACT 2609 • PO BOX 143, Fyshwick ACT 2609Tel: [phone] • Fax: [phone] • www.actcancer.orgInformation Sheet

Added to this, in recent years, some sunbeds are emitting higher levels of UVB to allow for faster tanning. These machineshave the capacity to emit levels of UV radiation up to five or six times stronger than the midday summer sun and are morelikely to cause burning.Overexposure to UV radiation from the sun and artificial sources is of considerable public health concern. UV radiationplays an important role in the development of skin cancer and cataracts, and suppresses the immune system. Further tothis, cumulative UV radiation results in premature skin ageing. For this reason, we do not recommend the use of UVtanning devices for cosmetic purposes. The UV radiation to which you are exposed in a solarium just adds to the damagethat may be caused by the harsh Australian sun—it will not make it easier or safer to tan in the sun. If you sunburn easilyand find it difficult to tan, you won’t tan in a solarium either.Fake tansFake tanning products contain synthetic or vegetable dyes that temporarily paint the skin brown. These bind to the skin andcome off when dead skin cells flake off. They usually last up to a week, depending on the product.Generally fake tans offer little protection from UV radiation. Some brands do include a high SPF sunscreen, but theseprovide only short-term protection from the time of application, 2-4 hours at most. The protection does not last for the lengthof time the tan remains on the skin.While a fake tan may be a safer alternative to sunbathing, The Cancer Council ACT does not encourage it. Australia’s highrates of skin cancer are at least partially due to the once popular but misguided belief that a tan is healthy and attractive.Promotion of fake tans simply perpetuates these beliefs.Is sun protection recommended during winter in the ACT region?Our bodies require small amounts of exposure to ultraviolet radiation in sunlight to make sufficient quantities of vitamin D.During the months of June and July in Canberra, the levels of ultraviolet radiation are very low – even in the middle of theday. For this reason, The Cancer Council ACT does not recommend the use of hats or sunscreen during June and July.People who may need to continue sun protection in the winter months include those people with highly sun-sensitive skin;a history of skin cancer; and outdoor workers.The Cancer Council ACT acknowledges The Cancer Council Victoria for the original preparation of this information sheet.February 2006