Hi Doctor,
Thanks, in advance, for taking the time to read my question and providing a response. My situation is quite frustrating and it has created extreme anxiety and stress and I'm hoping you can at least provide me with useful information. On August 2006, I was diagnosed with high risk HPV. Since my diagnosis, I have been closely following up on my pap spears as well as colposcopies/biopsies. All of my results until December of last year have been ASCUS and, for my knowledge, no signs of cancer. However, I was laid off from my job on July of last year but I was able to get my last biopsy on that same month which came back normal and with no signs of pre-cancerous changes. Of course, I am more worried now about following up on this condition due to lack of insurance. I have scheduled a colposcopy/biopsy with my local planned parenthood but it will not be until April. My last pap was December and, AGAIN, it showed ASCUS results. My questions are the following:
1) Can I develop cervical cancer within 4-5 months?
2) I am on Loestrin birth control pills and I have had abnormal *brown* bleeding for the past two weeks (I am supposed to get my period some time next week) is this a sign of cervical cancer?
3) I don't smoke cigarettes but I do use marihuana, and more recently, since it seems to calm down my anxiety and stress. Could marihuana speed the development of cervical cancer? (for the last two months the use has been at least 5 times a week)
5) My stress levels are most of the time SKY high...does this have an impact on my HPV infection?
6) Does ASCUS automatically mean pre-cancerous/cancerous cell changes? How long does it typically take for ASCUS results to progress into invasive cancer?