Replies to @brandysparks @pb50 I recall that my gynecologist told me several years ago that after age 65…

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Low grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (LSIL)

Gynecologic Cancers | Last Active: Apr 28 7:54am | Replies (23)

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@naturegirl5

@brandysparks @pb50 I recall that my gynecologist told me several years ago that after age 65 I no longer needed a pap smear if I had never had an abnormal one. Well, when I was diagnosed with endometrial cancer at age 67 that changed everything since my cervix was removed along with the uterus, fallopian tubes, and ovaries. Still, that advice stuck in my mind. Since @brandysparks was given the same advice I thought I would look it up. Here is information from the NIH-National Cancer Institute on cervical screenings in women over age 65.

Catch-Up HPV Testing May Help Prevent Cervical Cancer in Some Over Age 65:

-- https://www.cancer.gov/news-events/cancer-currents-blog/2023/catch-up-hpv-testing-older-women

About ten years ago a nurse practitioner I saw in gynecology ordered blood tests that included testing for HPV. I was negative. I'm going to ask my primary care physician about this because even though I no longer have a cervix I have read that HPV is implicated in other cancers.

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Replies to "@brandysparks @pb50 I recall that my gynecologist told me several years ago that after age 65..."

brandysparks | @brandysparks | Feb 18 9:32am

Thank you so much.

As for my situation, the precancerous VIN III/III is due to a condition ("lichen sclerosus" (LS)) I've tracked since it was discovered on me 40+ yrs ago by my astute (thankfully! ) gynecologist back then.

[And, fortunately, I have been tested for HPV as a precautionary measure along the way and it was negative.]

So little is known in the general population (women, esp. of course) about LS, but I've known about it nearly my whole adult life...and, from what I've read, for those who have this condition, less than 9% (maybe even less than 5%) become (pre?)cancerous. Doctors don't understand it much (it MAY be autoimmune, it MAY have genetic/inherited aspects), and my current (female) gynecologist has said that very little research dollars are available to understand it further. Well, NOW I have it in its precancerous form, and will be going back to find if it has developed further (to cancerous) after taking another biopsy/sample in a particular location of concern.

Just underwent laser ablation with plasmajet technology under general anesthesia, and am still in excruciating pain at every bathroom visit (11 days later). If it's getting me ahead of this thing so it never becomes cancerous, then I can endure. But I also don't know why I can't find any relief at bathroom time - tried Tylenol, oxycodone (prescribed), requested whether lidocaine cream could help (it doesn't) - only Vaseline heavily applied makes it just a bit more endurable til the bathroom needs are attended to.

There is an international group I've found once again, only this time more urgently: lssupportnetwork.org, if anyone would like to check it out, gather more info.