EC Posted April 7, 2005 Share Posted April 7, 2005 So my friend was diagnosed with HPV a while ago. She had a biopsy done and they said it was severe and ended up removing the first layer of her cervix. Then they sent her to a specialist to explain further and the specialist told her that cases vary from like little, to medium to severe to full blown cancer. She had a severe case so a little bit more and she would have full blown cancer. So now she has to have a pap and a biopsy every three months because it could come back and she would have to go through the whole procedure again. They also said the more she has to go through the procedure (removing layers of her cervix) that the weaker her cervix would become and that she would have less chances of having a child. They told her that she is young and that had this happened to her at the age of 39 they would of had to perform a hysterectomy. Now what freaked me out about the whole thing was that the specialist told her that smoking heavily increases the chances of getting cervical cancer? Is this true? Does anyone have any input on this? Link to post Share on other sites
laRubiaBonita Posted April 7, 2005 Share Posted April 7, 2005 I am POSITIVE It does not Decrease your chances....smoking weakens the bodies immunities and other defense systems..... so if anything, it probably earmarks and amplifies the chances of any bad health issues. Link to post Share on other sites
blind_otter Posted April 7, 2005 Share Posted April 7, 2005 Originally posted by EC Now what freaked me out about the whole thing was that the specialist told her that smoking heavily increases the chances of getting cervical cancer? Is this true? Does anyone have any input on this? Yes, it does. I had cervical cancer in 2003 and had to have part of my cervix removed. I used to be a heavy smoker. Link to post Share on other sites
Author EC Posted April 7, 2005 Author Share Posted April 7, 2005 So by smoking do they mean anything? Because I smoke cigarettes and pot. I know I shouldn't smoke either but I can stop the cigarettes but the pot...um I wasn't planning on stopping that for a while! But I do want kids and I do not want to have cervical cancer! As for weakening my immune system..I know cigarettes do but what about pot? Link to post Share on other sites
laRubiaBonita Posted April 7, 2005 Share Posted April 7, 2005 Originally posted by EC So by smoking do they mean anything? Because I smoke cigarettes and pot. I know I shouldn't smoke either but I can stop the cigarettes but the pot...um I wasn't planning on stopping that for a while! But I do want kids and I do not want to have cervical cancer! As for weakening my immune system..I know cigarettes do but what about pot? well, i have never heard anything conclusive on pot. i do know that pot has way more tar and crap...i do not think that can be good, but i dunno about the whole cancer thing. Link to post Share on other sites
blind_otter Posted April 7, 2005 Share Posted April 7, 2005 Originally posted by EC So by smoking do they mean anything? Because I smoke cigarettes and pot. I know I shouldn't smoke either but I can stop the cigarettes but the pot...um I wasn't planning on stopping that for a while! But I do want kids and I do not want to have cervical cancer! As for weakening my immune system..I know cigarettes do but what about pot? People will say this that or the other, the problem is there is no really good data about this because pot is illegal and there are few studies about this, and lots of studies about cigarettes. But I would say, pick one or the other. That's what I had to do. In all honesty I smoke SO much less pot, like less than a half gram a day, that the comparison is just crazy. Link to post Share on other sites
laRubiaBonita Posted April 7, 2005 Share Posted April 7, 2005 hey~ they prescibe mary jane to people getting chemo....i doubt the y would if it were only going to cause cancer somewhere else. Link to post Share on other sites
Author EC Posted April 7, 2005 Author Share Posted April 7, 2005 People will say this that or the other, the problem is there is no really good data about this because pot is illegal and there are few studies about this, and lots of studies about cigarettes. But I would say, pick one or the other. That's what I had to do. In all honesty I smoke SO much less pot, like less than a half gram a day, that the comparison is just crazy. I'm really trying to quit the cigarettes..I really really am But then I go a week without smoking cigarettes but then I'll smoke pot and Black and Milds all weekend. I mean its just that I LOVE drinking on the weekends and having a cigarette or black while typsy. The weed I have to really reduce because I am going brain dead. LOL I smoke at least a 20 everyday or more. It wasn't ever so bad. But Im trying to cut that down to weekends only. But after hearing what happened to my friend and knowing smoking can heavily increase this I'm freaking out~ Link to post Share on other sites
Naive Posted April 7, 2005 Share Posted April 7, 2005 How could you guys have that if you are so young??? Does it affect your chances of getting pregnant? Link to post Share on other sites
blind_otter Posted April 7, 2005 Share Posted April 7, 2005 Originally posted by ~Naive~ How could you guys have that if you are so young??? Does it affect your chances of getting pregnant? Actually 80% of the sexually active population has had or currently has HPV, which causes cervical cancer. I've had HPV since I was 19/20 - and it definately didn't affect ME getting pregnant, as I get pregnant easily. But it may have something to do with my multiple miscarriages. Link to post Share on other sites
Naive Posted April 7, 2005 Share Posted April 7, 2005 What exactly is HPV? Link to post Share on other sites
laRubiaBonita Posted April 7, 2005 Share Posted April 7, 2005 http://www.ashastd.org/stdfaqs/hpv.html Link to post Share on other sites
faux Posted April 7, 2005 Share Posted April 7, 2005 Pssh. Everyone knows that smoking is not bad for you. The government just makes the Tobacco companies say that it is. Controversy leads to better sales is all. Coffee contains carcinogens, but I do not see anyone launching some type of "Truth" campaign on Starbucks. Cigarettes really are bad for you, and coffee does contain carcinogens. Go ask a medical professional about any linkage between smoking and an increased risk for cervical cancer. Link to post Share on other sites
moimeme Posted April 8, 2005 Share Posted April 8, 2005 Anybody who doesn't know about HPV or any of the other STDs owes it to himself/herself to read up on them. ASAP. How could you guys have that if you are so young People die of all kinds of cancer at all kinds of ages. Men get breast cancer. Just because you're young doesn't guarantee immunity. As for smoking, it's deadly. It's implicated in many types of cancers. They say 30% of all early deaths could be prevented if people just quit smoking. Link to post Share on other sites
HotCaliGirl Posted April 8, 2005 Share Posted April 8, 2005 I was watching BBC World news just now, right after having read this thread and it was reporting that a new vaccine has been developed that would prevent cervical cancer by 90%. It prevents girls from contracting HPV and it is going to be a controversial treatment they said since the target recipients would be 10-13 year old girls (before they are sexually active and do not have HPV yet which most people get from sex)...It will be on the market in at least 2 years, but for those who already have HPV it is too late to take this vaccine. Also, I do not think it prevents cervical cancer caused caused from smoking. BTW smoking causes all types of cancer such as lymphoma my friend got from smoking, a few years after he quit but the carcinogens in the cells were of those found in cigarettes... not just lung cancer Link to post Share on other sites
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