My sister just passed away on Tuesday, she had cervical cancer and found out in November and doctors said it was too advanced. She was only 45 years old and she went to the gyn every year for her pap smear. So where did they go wrong or how come it wasn't detected? She was very health consious.
Please help me understand, I say this is not fair!!!!
2007-03-09 08:11:25 · 7 answers · asked by Meche 5 in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Cancer
Meche! How sad..Pap tests, unfortunately are not always accurate and doctors are fallible. They make mistakes. Did your sister have other symptoms like bleeding, vaginal discharge etc. That would have been a clue. did she loose weight etc. Something that advanced cannot go unnoticed. I had end stage Multiple Myeloma, bone cancer and it makes you stop manufacturing red blood cells. I went to the doctor for 9 months and he blew me off. I am a retired RN and the last thing I suspected was cancer. I did know I was seriously ill and demanded a different doctor who found the cancer. Mine was showing abnormal blood work but not cancer inthe blood. Only a bone marrow test showed the cancer. I fortunately knew that I had to not believe the doctors. They too, told me I was at my end stage maybe 3-4 weeks to go.
My dear husband found a supplement that actually killed the cancer cells. I did 10% tradional medicine and 90% alternative. Not everyone is able to do this. I feel your pain and Yes Life is VERY Unfair. With time I hope your heart heals...
2007-03-09 08:31:39 · answer #1 · answered by commonsense2265 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It could be a number of reasons.
My guess is the sample they took did not contain any cancer/pre-cancerous cells. This is possible in many of biopsies for many different cancers too. For example, in the case of prostate cancer, a biopsy involves sticking a needle into the prostate in several places to remove a sample of prostate cells. Well, the needle may not be positioned where the cancer/pre-cancerous cells are located. The same is true with a pap smear too.
A second possibility is a false negative in the lab.
A third possibility is the cancer cells had an extremely high mitosis (growth) rate and was not there when the pap smear was done.
A fourth possibility is just plain incompetence by the person administering the pap smear or checking the sample in the lab.
The wikipedia entry for pap smear does a good description of pap smears including reasons why some pap smears are wrongly negative.
I know it sounds cold but, these things do happen. I'm sorry it had to be your sister.
2007-03-09 08:56:54 · answer #2 · answered by oncogenomics 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
i do no longer think of so. A pap smear does not attempt for the virus, in user-friendly terms for differences in the cervical cells which may be brought about by technique of many stuff. And a HPV attempt so a great way as i understand in user-friendly terms tests for the severe possibility lines of the virus no longer those that reason warts. So regrettably you have gotten coach the wellbeing care provider your bumps for a analysis. ETA i stumble on it puzzling to have self assurance that the different poster has a course lab history if this is their answer. BTW i'm a scientific technological expertise pupil.
2016-09-30 10:58:41 · answer #3 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It isnt fair, and i would be very angry with the Dr's if I was you too.
If she had regular Pap Smears especially from Gyno's it sure should of been showing up in the tests.
As thats what pap smears are for to check for any abnormal changes in the cells for cancer.
I would be seeking legal action, and getting the Dr to explain allot if i was you, it wont bring your sister bk, but may stop others dieing from the same thing from this Dr who is not doing his job right.Good luck and i feel for you
2007-03-09 08:48:30 · answer #4 · answered by staffie lover from Aussie 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Maybe it didn't start off as cervical cancer , maybe it started as ovarian cancer and spread to her cervix. Ovarian cancer cannot be detected by a pap smear thus having the nickname "the silent killer" .You have to have a special blood test (C25 I think) and/or ovarian biopsy . I am sorry for your loss . You have my condolences =(
2007-03-09 09:15:02 · answer #5 · answered by pure_sweetness1984 2 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Sometimes even when doctors do their best, and the patient does too, they can't detect everything. Test are sometimes not acurate. Sry about your situation.
2007-03-09 08:20:12 · answer #6 · answered by Shag 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
well, for starters, people behav like any thing that shows up that people dont want like canser,
its justt messed up like that
you see they always have something that they are sure can prove what it is
but people cant understand what makes a cure work,.,
2007-03-09 08:24:26 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋