Poll - Smears, HPV, cervical cancer

[tribpot]

Hi all,

I've mentioned a few times a friend of mine who was diagnosed with cervical cancer last year. She finished her treatment a few months ago and so far is doing really well. She's doing a course on Women in Governance at the moment and needs to do a presentation as if it's to a board or committee of community decision makers. Her topic is Educating Young Women on Smear tests and wanted to poll some online communities to get some statistics for the presentation.

Her question is:

Did you ever receive and understand education about the link between smear tests and HPV and cervical cancer?

She's only sharing this information between the other women on her course and the tutor.

There are five possible answers, although she invites comments as well:

• Yes, and had regular smears
  
• Yes, and did not have regular smears
  
• No, but I still had regular smears
  
• No, and didn't have regular smears but would have done had I known
  
• No, and no smears but would not have made any difference anyway
  
  Thanks all

[mumfor1standfinaltime]

I wouldn't say that I have recieved much education about smear tests.
I do understand the importance of them and have them regularly (not that I like them).
Do think that maybe more education needs to be put out to women - especially young woman.

My sister told me recently that she has never had a smear test, she is nearly 23 with 2 young children. She doesn't even know what a smear test entails!

[tribpot]

Thanks mumfor1sttime - I agree, I don't remember this ever being covered in sex ed at school.

[sfxmum]

this is a subject close to my heart since it killed my mother. my youngest sister keeps having borderline results in smears but does not want, as yet, to be tested for HPV.
i have so far had normal results but will soon be having a HPV test. i need to know and therefore be more vigilant with smear tests.

but in answer to your question no one told me, found out bits by myself, remember one GP not being too clear on the subject.

[tribpot]

Sympathies about your mum sfx

[tribpot]

Bump for the afternoon.

[dinosaure]

I cannot understand how anyone could have missed the importance of having regular smear tests. I was not taught about it at school but honestly, you only have to read magazines to know about it. I'm 41 now and had first smear test when I was about 15 or 16.

And yes, I thoughth that the link between HPV and cervical cancer was also very well-known.

[GDG]

No but still had regular smears

Funnily enough, I've just worked on a project on HPV - totally amazed at how easy it is to treat abnormal cells if you are regularly screened and equally amazed at how little is known about it among the general public. Apparently, about 90% of women will have HPV at some time in their lives (probably more) and it can lead to cervical abnormalities, possibly progressing to cancer. However, it's amazingly easy to address abnormal cells if caught early enough. We are not routinely screened for HPV in this country, probably because at the moment there is no treatment for HPV, only for the abnormal cells that follow it - but how many women would be more likely to go for regular screening if they knew^ they had HPV??

[Bugsy2]

GDG, how often should you be screened if you've had HPV. I've had it & had borderline carcinoma changes & great lumps of my cervix hacked off.
Would be interested to know as I am now back on 3 yearly screens but I would prefer it to be annual.

[littlerach]

No, but had reg smears.

Actually, I know a fair bit about it as my younger sister has had treatment for abnormalities and HPV seems to be the cause. She has had a number of biopsies, and some treatment ovet the last 5 years.
She is only 27, and has no children.

I've always had a smear because I know I should.
But when ds was first diagnosed, I requested a smear as it had been a couple of years, and they only did 5 yearly here. they refused me.
Fortunatley we moved and my nw GP was more than happy to do one.

[GDG]

Bugsy,

I'm pretty sure they were saying that after treatment you'd have a 6 month follow up and then annually for a couple of years before going back to 3 yrly. This was in the US though.

[Bugsy2]

Thank you GDG, that seems to be the same in the UK. I have more questions - if you don't mind. Is HPV a virus? Does it come back or are you free of it once they treat it?

[tribpot]

Thanks for the replies ladies - keep 'em coming!

[QE]

I never knew about the link with HPV and smears until a few years ago. Never knew about smears from school sex ed, only due to good practice at my GP's surgery.

I thought everyone was routinely tested for HPV when the had smears only that if you have it you are not usually informed about it unless you also have abnormal cells? Several years ago a nurse told me that I had tested +ive for HPV with abnormal cells so I went to annual smears then when I'd had 3 clear in a row I went back to 5 yearly.

I think different GP practices have different approaches to this - some people I know have them every 3 years. I am every 5. What is the recommended guideline?

[QE]

HPV is a virus that can cause warts in the genital area (I didn't have these so was unaware) and can in some cases lead to the development of cancerous cells.

Apparently it can go on its own with no treatment needed (like me).

[GDG]

Yes, HPV is a virus and it's sexually transmitted. You wouldn't have an outward symptoms - males can get warts, but not always. There are different types of virus - high risk and low risk and I think you only get the genital warts with the low risk.

The high risk is the one that can lead to abnormal cells. Many women will have, or will have had, HPV some time in their lives and never know about it as it clears itself eventually (but can be there for a good few years). Once it's gone, it's gone - unless you become reinfected of course. If your partner has it and doesn't know about it, they can keep reinfecting you unless you use condoms.

[QE]

Even knowing this, it still causes me concern that 5 years between smears is a long time.

[GDG]

Yes, I'd much rather have 3 yearly QE. Can you not request that?

[QE]

I was going to say that expatinscotland is very knowledgable on thsi topic - is she about?

[QE]

gdg - is it possible to request it? Would i need to give a reason why other than wanting peace of mind. Especially as I am not considered high risk.

[QE]

Can you tell I am trying to get hunkers award?

[QE]

Wahay - I did it!!!!!!!

pmsl

[QE]

Has anyone else beaten 4 in a row yet???

[QE]

Oh, I've got to be the winner, haven't I????

Where's hunker when you need her!!!

[Twiglett]

No, but I still had regular smears

had a bad result last year and a loop diathermy

[GDG]

Hehehe!

Don't know - I guess it might depend on GP. I wonder if you could pay?? If the GP refused and I was really bothered, I'd pay for an extra one in between the 5 yrly ones.