" Borderline" abnormal smear result- I'm so scared.

[ellasxmasshoppingmadmum1]

I know that I should be counting myself lucky as it could be much worse but I have just had my smear result which shows borderline cell changes. I now have to wait for six months to find out if this resolves on its own or gets worse. I really wanted to try for a baby in new year but feel its too risky now, in case pregnancy accelerates any abnormal cell changes. My dd is 3.9 yrs and I'm just so scared and feeling very alone. Has anyone else had this type of result? How do I stop worrying for the next six months?

[imaginaryfriend]

I had the next stage on from this about 6 years ago. Well, I had 2 mildly abnormal ones, then one which needed some treatment. I was terrified too but honestly it was nothing. I had to have some cells burnt off from my cervix which they did in a walk-in clinic at the hospital. I was a little painful for an hour or so after, mild period pains, but then fine. Since then i have to have repeat tests every 6 months but I've always been fine.

To reassure you more, I know loads of people who've had borderline cell changes which have just resolved. that seems to be the norm. I don't think it's majorly unusual to have some changes now and then.

I don't know what difference it makes to getting pregnant though you should ask your GP about that I think.

[ellasxmasshoppingmadmum1]

Thankyou for answering imaginaryfriend, it really helps to hear that. Its just amazing when something like that happens you suddenly feel so fragile, so vunerable. I'm a neurotic type anyway- I always imagine the worst.

[CountTo10LordsaLeaping]

Oh ella I haven't been through this but my mum has lots of times and I so feel for you as she always said she felt so isolated by the waiting etc. I would say that you need to speak to your gp about the pregancy side of things and if there is anything else that can be done earlier as you're obviously very anxious. Sorry, I know I've got nothing of any use to say but I just wanted to recognise how worried you are and give a hug i guess

[marymillington]

I had this, years ago now, had a colposcopy after a repeat smear came back with same results - all clear at this stage and have had no problems since.

Try not to worry - it can resolve by itself. And even if it doesn't, this is something that can be sorted out, quickly and easily.

I know the waiting is horrible. But try to put it out of your mind, for now, if you can.

[Fattymumma]

please stay calm. in the majority of borderline changes it is caused by a mild infection and will usually have sorted itsefl by the time your next check up arrives.

I wouldn't ;et it put you off having another baby.

I have had extensive cervical treatment over the last 5 years and have recuring cancerous (sp) cells around my cervix. mostly they are treated with laser surgery but i have had to have biospy's taken a few times.

I am still here, and i have a 2 year old daughter who was concieved after i was told it would be difficult for me and carried full term depsite being told my cervix would be considerably weakened and i may have to have a sticth to hold the baby inside.

[imaginaryfriend]

It is worrying even when you kind of know there's no point worrying. I'm a neurotic too!

[ellasxmasshoppingmadmum1]

Thankyou again, I really need the hugs. I feel I can't talk about my feelings to dh because he gets terrified about worst case scenario and wants to bury his head in the sand, and my mum worries too much and is ill herself, I mean there isn't really anything to say anyway. Its just that fear of the worst which sits in the pit of your stomach.

[ellasxmasshoppingmadmum1]

fattymama you see you put me to shame - you must have been through hell and back,and that is fantastic about your dd! Its just we put off having another child for selfish reasons really as found parenthood harder than we expected and of course now I'm scared I may have left it too late. Theres no way I will get pregnant till I get an all-clear though as I know of women for whom pregnancy greatly accelerated the abnormalities. And marym thankyou too, I just have to hope for the best. It wouldn't be so bad if you just had to wait a few weeks but 6 months is so long to live with the fear!

[Fattymumma]

the first time i was told i had cancerous cells i was in bits. my gran died of cervical cancer and i was terrified.
i didn't really listen to what the Dr was telling me ( that these were just cells and culd be treated easily) all i heard was the word cancer.

I come from a family where Cancer is pretty much a cloud that follows us around, its not if its when we get it.

i was 20 and had a 3 month old baby.

but once i had had the treatment and realised it wasn't to bad. i realised that if the Dr's weren't worried then nor should i be.

[ellasxmasshoppingmadmum1]

fattymama my gran died of cancer too (breast though) so my family are very paranoid about it tbh. My sister has already has a breast scare and she is only 27. Its just my biggest fear, its probably most mums' biggest fear though really i suppose.

[fortyplus]

ellasxmasshoppingmadmum1 - I had borderline changes about 14 years ago - had to go back every 6 months for about 3 years. I've never had an abnormal one since. Apparently a 'false positive' is very common, especially if you are at all prone to thrush.
Please don't worry - there's a 99% chance it's nothing to concern you.

[ellasxmasshoppingmadmum1]

thankyou fortyplus. I am also waiting for a gynae appt from hospital as practice nurse said cervix looked unhealthy when she took smear. That is another reason why I am terrified you see. Have been waiting about 5 weeks for that appt but it takes forever.

[Fattymumma]

on my mums side i have 5 relatives who died of breast cancer and one of bowle cancer.

on my dads i have my gran - cervical, my grandad- prostate which spread to his kidney and liver my uncle who is now into his 4th year of remission from lymphoma (sp?) my great aunt-breast, great gran- cancer but not certain of which form.

there atre also a number of more distant relatives whom we suspect as having passed through cancer but not sure about

[ellasxmasshoppingmadmum1]

oh how scary for you and family fattymama!! My dad was adopted and knows nothing about biological family so I have no idea about any illnesses on that side, probably for the best otherwise I'd worry even more!!

[chubbleigh]

My x-sil has had treatment for abnormal cells, I have a very good book which she thought explained things very well, the advice for her was that in order to help resolve this health issue you need to make sure that you are as healthy as you can possible be so your immune system can sort this out for you. Eat the best you can, little or no alcohol, don't smoke, take some exercise and also to de-stress as much as you can too. Easier said than done but it does give you a good aim so that you feel that can take control of the situation in some way, it will help with your pregnancy plans too.

[Fattymumma]

as i say its a bit of a cloud an i know it worries my mum.

but there is nothing i can do abou it, its like the lottery, if its our turn its your turn.

[Tatties]

I got a borderline smear a few years ago. I was really scared when I got the result as there was no explanation, so I phoned up the nurse. She said that the cells could go back to normal or change further but they wouldn't be able to detect any changes until at least 6mths, and there was no point worrying about it in the meantime, as it was likely that there was no abnormality at all. She also said I didn't have to avoid getting pregnant if I really wanted to ttc. Anyway I did get pg within a few months, ds is now 19mo and all subsequent smears have been normal. Don't worry {{{hugs}}}

[ellasxmasshoppingmadmum1]

Thanks chubb I think I am already doing those things, I am going to bed now but will check this thread again tomorrow in case anyone else adds to it. Thankyou to all of you xxx

[fortyplus]

ellasxmasshoppingmadmum1 - you have been doing the sensible thing and going for smear tests - they are designed to do exactly this - pick up any pre cancerous changes before they cause a problem. Cervical cancer is one of the easiest to treat (apparently) if it's caught early. And even if you are told that you need a colposcopy there is a very good chance that the cells aren't cancerous.
Having young children turns us all into terrible worriers, doesn't it? I never ever worried about my health until I had children.

[bloss]

Message withdrawn

[ludalightsandlanterns]

hi...Ella please try not to worry....I have only very recently had treatment for abnormal cervical cells.
I had 2 smears which came back as insufficient...
I then went for a third smear and a colposcopy..which revealed very inflamed and abnormal cells (I actually got to see my cervix which was very strange!!!!)
I then had to wait 6 months....(which was a bit pointless I thought..as you could actually see how inflamed things were in there...but still!
Then two weeks ago..I went back for a second colposcopy...it was still inflamed so I had Cold Coagulation (the cells burned off)
It was ok...a local anesthetic and two weeks on I'm pretty much back to normal.
I have to go back in another 6 months to have it checked again.
Its really ok...don't assume the worst..smear tests pick up these abnormal cells nice and early...so they can be treated before anything develops

[ludalightsandlanterns]

oh...can I just piont out...that these abnormal cells weren't cancerous...just abnormal.
So don't think the worst and speak to your GP if you are still worried.

[rydercup]

Hi - I had this about 5 years ago. The next smear came back normal and all others since then have!! I have had 2DSs in that time aswell!