I'm sorry the NP was disrespectful, but I've got to say that I agree with her recommendation, if not her delivery of it.
they don't do the kind of test that would show HPV since I'm only in my twenties (I'm 27), and they only do those for women in their 30's, and that even if I was exposed to HPV that if I am healthy, my immune system would automatically fight off the virus without needing to have intervention.
This is true, more or less. HPV testing is only routinely used if you are over 30 or following up on an abnormal pap. Most people who test positive for HPV clear it without intervention in two years. It sounds to me like the NP may have been trying to address your concerns (rudely, it sounds like, but still) without overtesting you. Also, even if you have been exposed to HPV via your husband, if you've only been with him since 2010 it's too soon for any abnormalities that might develop (and they most likely wouldn't) to become serious, and if you'd ever been sexually active before your husband, it's highly likely you were exposed to HPV then. However, if you're informed and paying out of pocket they should absolutely respect your wishes. It's your body and your choice.
I know many women in their 20's (especially for reading here on VP) that have had to have intervention due to paps coming back abnormal.
Yes, but that is exactly the argument against testing people too early and too often: that they are more likely to have interventions for abnormalities that would have resolved without treatment.
Finally, are you absolutely certain that your friend has full-blown, honest-to-god cancer? Not just an abnormal pap, dysplasia, CIN 1-3, etc. but fighting it with chemotherapy and having a hysterectomy cancer? The only reason why I question this is often people get an abnormal pap back and due to bad communication or lack of communication from their doctors they end up terrified that they have cancer and are at risk of death. Only 11,000 people are diagnosed with cervical cancer annually in the US. Which of course means nothing if you're one of the 11,000--please don't think I'm trying to belittle your concern or your friend's situation, however.
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Date: 2011-12-18 07:17 am (UTC)they don't do the kind of test that would show HPV since I'm only in my twenties (I'm 27), and they only do those for women in their 30's, and that even if I was exposed to HPV that if I am healthy, my immune system would automatically fight off the virus without needing to have intervention.
This is true, more or less. HPV testing is only routinely used if you are over 30 or following up on an abnormal pap. Most people who test positive for HPV clear it without intervention in two years. It sounds to me like the NP may have been trying to address your concerns (rudely, it sounds like, but still) without overtesting you. Also, even if you have been exposed to HPV via your husband, if you've only been with him since 2010 it's too soon for any abnormalities that might develop (and they most likely wouldn't) to become serious, and if you'd ever been sexually active before your husband, it's highly likely you were exposed to HPV then. However, if you're informed and paying out of pocket they should absolutely respect your wishes. It's your body and your choice.
I know many women in their 20's (especially for reading here on VP) that have had to have intervention due to paps coming back abnormal.
Yes, but that is exactly the argument against testing people too early and too often: that they are more likely to have interventions for abnormalities that would have resolved without treatment.
Finally, are you absolutely certain that your friend has full-blown, honest-to-god cancer? Not just an abnormal pap, dysplasia, CIN 1-3, etc. but fighting it with chemotherapy and having a hysterectomy cancer? The only reason why I question this is often people get an abnormal pap back and due to bad communication or lack of communication from their doctors they end up terrified that they have cancer and are at risk of death. Only 11,000 people are diagnosed with cervical cancer annually in the US. Which of course means nothing if you're one of the 11,000--please don't think I'm trying to belittle your concern or your friend's situation, however.