General Concerns

Colposcopy or a LEEP During Pregnancy Dear OncoLink "Ask the Experts," Is it safe to have a colposcopy or a LEEP (loop electrocautery excision procedure) while I am pregnant? Christina S. Chu, MD, Assistant Professor of the Division of Gynecologic Oncology at...
Do I need a pap smear if I have never had sex? Dear OncoLink "Ask The Experts," I am 47 years old and never had sex. Do I still need a pap smear?Christina S. Chu, MD, Assistant Professor of the Division of Gynecologic Oncology at the University of Pennsylvania Health System, responds:Pap smears...
Evaluation of abnormal uterine bleeding Dear OncoLink "Ask The Experts," I am 45 and having mid cycle bleeding. This has been happening for about 6 months. My doctor observed during my physical exam that my uterus was enlarged. I had an ultrasound and was told that I have multiple...
Fertility Drugs and Cancer Dear OncoLink "Ask The Experts," Can you give me websites and information on the chances of getting cervical cancer from taking clomid? I took it for 1 1/2 years in the 1970's to help me get pregnant. Christina S. Chu, MD, Assistant Professor of the...
Fluoride during Head & Neck Radiation Dear OncoLink "Ask The Experts," In regards to patients undergoing head/neck radiation therapy, which type of fluoride gel therapy is recommended in the gel trays: stannous, sodium, or APF? Thank you for your recommendation. Kendra Schaefer, DMD,...
Infection during Pap testing Dear OncoLink "Ask The Experts," I had a pap smear done about 2 weeks ago and they then treated me for a bacterial infection. When my test results came back they showed that I had mild dysplasia. Could this be due to the infection that I had during...
Is it Bartholin's Gland Cancer? Dear OncoLink "Ask The Experts," I have had Bartholin's cysts for over two years now on and off. Recently I had come across an article concerning Bartholin's gland cancer. How will I know if I have the cancer? Will it show up in the culture?...
Is there a correlation between cancer and shingles? Dear OncoLink "Ask The Experts," My mother and father died of cancer and both developed shingles within 6 to 9 months of dying. My sister has been diagnosed with uterine cancer. She just found out she has shingles. Is there a correlation...
Management of Vulvar Dysplasia Dear OncoLink "Ask The Experts," Is there a protocol in regard to follow ups after a wide local excision of the vulva? My daughter who is twenty years old was diagnosed with VIN III caused by the HPV virus, and had to have a wide local excision with...
Molar Pregnancy Dear OncoLink "Ask The Experts," I had a molar pregnancy in November of 2001. While in school, one of my teachers told me that molar pregnancies are "most of the time" linked to cancer. Is this true? If so why didn't my doctor tell me? I'm...
MRI Concerns Dear OncoLink "Ask The Experts," My daughter's last MRI showed a very bright thick ring - a complete circle - around her brain tumor that was not there just 8 months ago. The shape of the tumor has changed a bit, too. Her tumor was removed 7 years...
Normal pregnancy after having a molar pregnancy Dear OncoLink "Ask The Experts," My question is in respect to having a normal pregnancy after having a molar pregnancy and choriocarcinoma, have you had any patients in your practice that have had a normal pregnancy after all this. Also what...
Paget's disease of the vulva Dear OncoLink "Ask The Experts," I need surgery for Paget's disease of the vulva. Can you tell me about my treatment options? Stephen C. Rubin, MD, Professor and Chief of the Division of Gynecologic Oncology, University of Pennsylvania Health...
Prophylactic Oopherectomy for High Risk Dear OncoLink "Ask The Experts," I'm a 50-yr-old healthy female who has been having yearly intravaginal ultrasounds and CA125 tests because of my family history (my mother died of ovarian cancer at the age of 55). My Ca125 is considered normal (it is...
Should I have a hysterectomy to avoid gynecologic cancers? Dear OncoLink "Ask The Experts," If a woman has already had breast cancer, wouldn't it make sense to have a hysterectomy to avoid getting other female types of cancer, i.e. ovarian and uterine cancer? I am currently 52 years old. Thank you....
SIL (Squamous Intraepithelial Lesion) Dear OncoLink "Ask The Experts," I am 32 years old and have been having pelvic pain and fullness, pain with intercourse, spotting throughout the month and white discharge, all of these for the past 2 years, worsening in the last 6 months. I chalked...
Stick With One Type of Vaccine Dear OncoLink "Ask The Experts," My international patient was given the first 2 doses of Cervarix in her home country. She is due for her 3rd shot but will not be returning there anytime soon. Can she get her 3rd shot as Gardasil, or does it need to...
Treatment for Bartholin Gland Cancer I have a rare type of Gyn cancer: metastatic squamous cell cancer of the Bartholin gland. I am currently receiving radiation to the pelvis and weekly Cisplatin chemotherapy to be followed by interstitial brachy implants. I fear most the...
Treatment for CIN III Dear OncoLink "Ask The Experts," I had a biopsy and it came back with carcinoma in situ (CIN III) and adenocarcinoma in situ. I have seen two doctors. One (a regular gynecologist) tells me that I should just wait and have pap smears every...
Vaginal Cuff Smear Dear OncoLink "Ask the Experts," In March of 2000, I had a hysterectomy, leaving only my ovaries in place. Just last week I had my yearly follow up visit and they did a pap smear. The doctor's office called and told me my pap smear had come...