Meeting with Oncologist

Yesterday evening I had my appointment with the gynocological oncologist - March 5, 2013. 

To say his bedside manner was cold, is an understatement. He never introduced himself. He never shook my hand, or my husband's. He barely even made eye contact with me. He was at some times, down right rude to my husband and I. He looked at Tim when he asked a question and pretty much barked at him for not understanding how you get cervical cancer...I seriously couldn't believe it. I was very polite and although he may not be as warm and cuddly as I had hoped for, I hope he is a good doctor. He warmed up a little bit through the appointment, but not much. 

So, anyway, he asked me a million and one questions, in which I gave him an extensive look at my history. He got a little attitudinal when he would ask me a question that pertained to when I was younger and had to turn the page he was writing on back over to add it. See what I mean. He literally acted like I was a bother and that wasn't too comforting when I am talking about the possibilities of having CANCER!

He stepped out for a few minutes and then came back to do the colposcopy. Hurt. Hurt. Hurt. One of the worst I've ever had. I didn't think after talking with him for 20 minutes that he was going to be the most gentle and I was right. He was a little nicer and I know he was just trying to get a good look, but OUCH! He said there was just a lot of pressure and discomfort because I was pregnant and my uterus is bearing down on the cervix and he is on the other side pushing against the cervix. I understood that and I wanted him to get a good look. 

Basically he said the dysplasia is very deep and for as far as he could see, especially on my right side. He was very clear that there is a lot of abnormalities. He said absolutely something needs to be done after I give birth to AK in order for it not to develop into cancer. He also said that the pregnancy hormones do make the cancer more susceptible to growing because it compromises your immune system. 

He will not do any biopsies during pregnancy unless absolutely necessary.

At this time he does not think I need to deliver AK early for any reason, unless it comes back at cancer at any time. Then things chance, just as I have been told. He couldn't give me and statistics on how likely it is to develop now {or later}. Nothing can be done when I deliver her {vaginally or c-section} and I will have to wait at least 8 weeks after birth to have any type or procedure or surgery. He said breastfeeding will make me heal slower so he will prescribe some medication to help me heal faster, since I do plan on breastfeeding again. 

As to what type of procedure or surgery I will have, we will have to wait to make the decision. He said a hysterectomy is not out of the question. Could be a leep procedure, a cone procedure or a few others. We will just have to wait and see what the pap smear, colposcopies and biopsies show after I give birth. But I am glad to know that something will be done!

He also said that even a hysterectomy does not completely cure my of possibly getting cervical cancer, just as I have read. It can come back decades later in the form of other cancers.

All and all I got most of my questions out by keeping his one foot in the door and mostly got good answers. I am praising God that I can hopefully keep AK in until she reaches full-term! And I will continue to pray that nothing changes between now and the end of summer when I have some sort of procedure to stop the cancer process. He wouldn't even talk about what happens if it goes to cancer. He only said hysterectomy and radiation, but we will cross that bridge when/if that happens.

Thank you again for all the prayers and support. I so appreciate it.

Next week I will be discussing this all with my pernatalogist (Mon pm) and my OB (Wed am).