Anal Cancer, screening for Anal Dysplasia - me too

[Guest guest]

I've read about anal cancer screening many times on this list. And I

have a POZ friend with advanced anal cancer that was detected very

late in the game (too late). So, I decided to be safe and not sorry,

and get screened for anal cancer.

My anal pap smear revealed a very small but " high grade " dysplacia

which may be pre-cancerous. The nurse commented that this should be

a wake-up call to all our HIV doctors....I'm undetectable, high CD4,

no apparent symptoms of any kind, and I had a pre-cancerous sample.

Luckily for me it was caught early and can probably be totally

eliminated, and cancer hopefully prevented.

Ask your doctor about anal pap smears to detect cancer. If he/she

doesn't know, keep looking. I'm sure glad I checked.

And I first read about it here on .

[Guest guest]

"My anal pap smear revealed a very small but "high grade" dysplacia which may be pre-cancerous. The nurse commented that this should be a wake-up call to all our HIV doctors....I'm undetectable, high CD4, no apparent symptoms of any kind, and I had a pre-cancerous sample. Luckily for me it was caught early and can probably be totally eliminated, and cancer hopefully prevented."Good work! This is an area where we all need to be pushing our MDs to be more active. I just had my second visit with Dr Goldstone in NYC. On my first, two "high grade dysplasia" areas were located, biopsied, and fried. Six months later, the larger area is gone, but one area remains high grade. He fried it again, and I'll return in six months for follow up.The procedure is not bad, no worse than someone fingering your butt when you're not in the mood. The novocaine injections, just like at the dentist's office, are the worst part. I flew home six hours after the procedure. For 24 hours after, was a little "uncomfortable," but today, not even aware of it.JB

[Guest guest]

I've got 3 friends that have been diagnosed with this cancer, 2 of them are poz, the 3rd i don't know... both the poz buds are in their early 40's and the cancer was caught barely in time, it's still up in the air on their recovery, all 3 went under the knife and chemotherapy, don't recall how much was taken out, but it was significant amount.... please pass the word to your friends to get checked..

[Guest guest]

I am glad you made this post. I too have gone through the testing and

have had the same diagnosis

as yourself. Actually, I think my situation my be a little more

severe. Shortly after I had the first test done

I went to see a doctor my main doc recommended. The guy had extensive

experience. Also, I was having

some significant problems with hemorrhoids. The Dr. did surgery and

also took out the area with the

highest degree of dysplasia. Now, I do in for a test every 6 months

and see the Dr every 3 month. Everything

is under control and I am so grateful I had the test.

I have to also get on my soap box here. Too many HIV docs are ignorant

about this topic. Also, worrisome

is the lack of places for a person to get tested. Here in San Diego, a

metro area of 2+mil people, there is only

one place to get tested - and that is at UCSD. Also, they have a

waiting list for people who do not have gold-plated insurance.

So, make this a part of your normal annual check-ups.

[Guest guest]

I am glad you made this post. I too have gone through the testing and

have had the same diagnosis

as yourself. Actually, I think my situation my be a little more

severe. Shortly after I had the first test done

I went to see a doctor my main doc recommended. The guy had extensive

experience. Also, I was having

some significant problems with hemorrhoids. The Dr. did surgery and

also took out the area with the

highest degree of dysplasia. Now, I do in for a test every 6 months

and see the Dr every 3 month. Everything

is under control and I am so grateful I had the test.

I have to also get on my soap box here. Too many HIV docs are ignorant

about this topic. Also, worrisome

is the lack of places for a person to get tested. Here in San Diego, a

metro area of 2+mil people, there is only

one place to get tested - and that is at UCSD. Also, they have a

waiting list for people who do not have gold-plated insurance.

So, make this a part of your normal annual check-ups.