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Original poster

Went for a smear after ten years..

120 replies

Grobagsforever · 11/12/2020 13:17

I'm a responsible 40 year old woman and should 100 percent know better than to ignore the letters. I have health anxiety due to husbands death and avoided this test as I was scared of the results. Ridiculous I know, as of course the test is there to pick up potential cancer before it occurs! Absolutely illogical but that's how healthy anxiety works, I thought getting cervical cancer would be my punishment for not getting smears for ten years..

Anyway it came back clear.

So if you're avoiding the test for the same reasons as me, please don't. I feel SO much better without the niggling worry and panic if I get a twinge in that area!!!

OP posts:
PurpleDaisies · 11/12/2020 14:20

@PassataQueenofBritain

But if the tests only test for HPV, and it is possible to have cancer without HPV...aren't they missing people that get cancer without getting HPV? Confused or have I completely misunderstood?
Yes, but overall more lives are saved this way.

That’s the aim of a screening programme.

Fuzzmutt · 11/12/2020 14:21

[quote Grobagsforever]@Chesneyhawkes1 I'm so sorry you went through that[/quote]
I am too but I am glad that her cancer was caught early enough by a smear test so that it could be successfully treated.

megletthesecond · 11/12/2020 14:22

Oh I hated them. Used to find them painful and cry. I was very low risk but luckily they picked up pre-cancerous cells and it was treated with lletz and eventually a hysterectomy.
Really not worth skipping even if you hate them.

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KarenMarlow3 · 11/12/2020 14:32

Smears maybe optional but my life insurance doesn't share that sentiment
You mean, you can't get life insurance without proof having had a smear test? I would find another company.

Ohwhatbliss · 11/12/2020 14:34

@DesperateInTheGulf I hear you and I respect your opinion. But having seen first hand through my sister in law the horrors of treatment for cervical cancer, those few quick minutes of a smear test, however awful, are so so preferable to the realities of treatment for cervical cancer. A quick Google of Brachytherapy would be enough to make most people grit their teeth and get a smear. And that's why regular smears are pushed

upset101 · 11/12/2020 14:36

I had horrendous experiences as a teenager and in my twenties - most recent smear I was given 2 diazepam, 2 codeine, half an hour and GP plus two nurses .

No problems at all - a hundred times easier !!

Barmyfarmy · 11/12/2020 14:37

I'm 26, 5 pregnancies, never went for smear tests when I was asked until a few weeks ago when my GP finally convinced me. It took a lot of effort and sleepless nights leading up to it and on the day I was a pale, shaky mess. Was done in 5 minutes and I cried from the relief. I've never felt so ridiculous in my life for worrying but I know why I couldn't bare it. To anyone worrying, it is worth it. The horrible experience of waiting for the day to come and the actual (painless for me and very okay with an understanding nurse) procedure is worth it for the sake of your health. Flowers

Noidea2114 · 11/12/2020 14:41

Also don't forget to attend your mammogram. I had my 3 yearly one in November and it's picked up breast Cancer.
I've been told by the consultant I wouldn't of felt anything for another couple of years it's that small.
So hopefully they have caught it in time to treat easily.

NaughtipussMaximus · 11/12/2020 14:42

I went religiously every 3 years. Last year I was found to have HPV but no changes, had to go back after a year - I had to push really hard to get that smear as it was due in early April. It turned out from having no cell changes in 2019, I had cell changes which were classified as CIN3 after a biopsy. These were removed by LLETZ and I have to go back every six months now, but it was stressed to me that the cells WEREN’T cancer (yet). So really even missing one smear can be dangerous!

conkersarebonkers · 11/12/2020 14:53

@Noidea2114 My mum's breast cancer was picked up on a routine mammogram as well. She had surgery and radiotherapy and it was all done and dusted within a few months. 8 years later she is fit as a fiddle!

conkersarebonkers · 11/12/2020 14:55

Just realised that kind of made it sound like it took her 8 years to recover!! That's not the case obviously Grin.

JustGotToKeepOnKeepingOn · 11/12/2020 14:55

I had abnormal cells many years ago in my mid twenties. It was caught and treated, but it did take several treatments to get the all clear. I never, ever miss a test.

I understand that women feel worried about the procedure - no one particularly enjoys it! But please, please do whatever it takes to get your smear test done.

I have also seen friends who refused to go for regular screening have hysterectomies. Radical treatment that could have been prevented.

I don't think anyone is silly for not going - I would just urge anyone who is anxious to get the support they need to go.

megletthesecond · 11/12/2020 15:04

upset I had diazepam for my first colposcopy. Definitely the way forward Grin.
I grew quite fond of the gynea nurses by the end of it.

MyristicaFragrans · 11/12/2020 15:32

Well. I do understand that people have issues with a smear test. I didn’t enjoy my last one much, either.

But I’ve had nine rounds of IVF, so that kind of puts in in perspective for me in terms of discomfort.

Staffy1 · 11/12/2020 15:42

I can't tolerate them. Had one many years ago and it was incredibly painful. A consultant tried again last year but it was so unbearably painful it didn't get done but said as far as she could see all looked fine. This is one part of my health I'm not concerned about and am always getting letters to book a test, yet trying to get a breast check, an area which does worry me, before the age of 50 is always discouraged.

upset101 · 11/12/2020 17:49

@megletthesecond

upset I had diazepam for my first colposcopy. Definitely the way forward Grin. I grew quite fond of the gynea nurses by the end of it.
It makes the whole process a breeze doesn’t it !

I have a horrendous phobia to the point I’ve blacked out before now, and find speculum excruciatingly painful - worse than breaking my leg - but with diazepam and codeine in I was away on a happy sleepy cloud !

acatcalledjohn · 11/12/2020 18:26

I think it's been 5 years since mine and I have been with the same partner for almost 8. Previous one came back negative for HPV so I'm in no hurry to go back.

I have a number of issues with it:

  1. The push to lower the age for routine smears. There is good reason it's 25 (and I think it should be 30 unless you have symptoms).
  2. The shaming of women to get this done.
  3. The fact that nowadays they only test further if HPV is detected.

I had a coil fitted at about 28 and and that point I'd never had a smear (always said I'd have one at 30, no sooner unless required). The nurse had already gotten ready to do a smear ahead of fitting the coil because it was 'overdue'. It took some arguing on my part to not have it done. Luckily I am outspoken, but anyone less secure in themselves when on a table, naked from the waist down, legs akimbo, is going to end up having a procedure done without consent.

At the time I didn't think much of it but thinking about it now it makes me quite angry.

What does need to change is that any woman of any age should be offered a smear if symptoms warrant it. The excuse of being too young for cervical cancer despite having symptoms is ludicrous.

brunoc12 · 11/12/2020 19:20

I had my first one 2 weeks ago, I kept ignoring the letters for 4 years then the doctors rang me up. Its been 2 weeks and I'm still waiting for a letter back, really anxious about what it says, wish I'd get a letter already!

LindaEllen · 11/12/2020 19:47

[quote Grobagsforever]@LindaEllen was it difficult to get the cells from your cervix yourself? [/quote]
It's not a cervical sample to self-test for HPV - just a vaginal swab. It was incredibly easy :).

LindaEllen · 11/12/2020 19:48

@PassataQueenofBritain

But if the tests only test for HPV, and it is possible to have cancer without HPV...aren't they missing people that get cancer without getting HPV? Confused or have I completely misunderstood?
98% of cervical cancers are HPV related. So the numbers of samples that have cancer with no HPV would be incredibly low.
LindaEllen · 11/12/2020 19:50

@acatcalledjohn

I think it's been 5 years since mine and I have been with the same partner for almost 8. Previous one came back negative for HPV so I'm in no hurry to go back.

I have a number of issues with it:

  1. The push to lower the age for routine smears. There is good reason it's 25 (and I think it should be 30 unless you have symptoms).
  2. The shaming of women to get this done.
  3. The fact that nowadays they only test further if HPV is detected.

I had a coil fitted at about 28 and and that point I'd never had a smear (always said I'd have one at 30, no sooner unless required). The nurse had already gotten ready to do a smear ahead of fitting the coil because it was 'overdue'. It took some arguing on my part to not have it done. Luckily I am outspoken, but anyone less secure in themselves when on a table, naked from the waist down, legs akimbo, is going to end up having a procedure done without consent.

At the time I didn't think much of it but thinking about it now it makes me quite angry.

What does need to change is that any woman of any age should be offered a smear if symptoms warrant it. The excuse of being too young for cervical cancer despite having symptoms is ludicrous.

Actually, women with symptoms shouldn't be going for a smear test. Smear tests are a preventative measure, not a diagnostic tool. They're for women with no symptoms. If a woman presents with symptoms she should be offered a colposcopy followed by biopsy if required. Women with abnormal bleeding should book an appointment with their GP, not their routine smear test.
Elieza · 11/12/2020 20:08

@acatcalledjohn
Sorry I’m a bit confused. You felt like smears should only be available to those 30 and over with symptoms, and there is a ‘good reason’ they don’t offer younger, you mention ‘shaming women’ to have smears, and then you finished by saying you think they should be available to all?

I got a bit confused. I hope your message is that everyone should have them regularly as they could save their life. Nobody is ‘shamed’. And everyone should be encouraged to look after their health.

Honestly, as a friend of someone who had it age 23 (in Scotland we used to get them age 20 up but now it’s 25 the same as England ) I’m so glad she went for it or she would be dead as it showed cancer.

The only ‘good reason’ I am aware of for making the age higher is the cost to the nhs, as chances of positive results are higher in the over 25 age group. I was told this by the government when I complained that the age was changing as there would be other girls like my friend who would be undetected for up to 5 years. But the budget wouldn’t extend to that so they’ve just to take their chances. She got a total hysterectomy, chemo and radiotherapy -one of which was delivered inside her directly to her cervix and she could not move for hours as it was being delivered. And the hpv vaccine she had at school didn’t protect her like some say.

So hopefully you will reconsider getting your own smear done soon and follow the timings in future to keep yourself safe. Be well

JustGotToKeepOnKeepingOn · 11/12/2020 20:15

@acatcalledjohn it's totally your choice whether to have a smear or not, but I'm baffled as to why when you were having a cool fitted you didn't allow the nurse to do the smear test?

WoWsers16 · 11/12/2020 20:18

I have never missed a smear and always had clear results - however I'm someone who has cervical cancer stage 2B without HPV.
For Me I am totally disappointed with the smears and feel like they haven't helped me at all- in fact if I went for my smear in January (like I would of been) then it would have tested for HPV, it would of been negative - and my cancer (which was a 6cm tumour) would of kept on going and I would hate to think what stage it would of been then!

Yes results for cervical cancer without HPV are only 2% but I'm one of them - I would (hopefully not) have left a husband and 3 young children - all because the smear doesn't test for cancerous cells anymore. I'd rather have a test that tells you definitely rather than there's still a chance.
2% is a lot of 3000 people who are diagnosed with cervical cancer a year! It's all a bit crap being in the 2% :( xxxx

WoWsers16 · 11/12/2020 20:20

[quote Ohwhatbliss]@DesperateInTheGulf I hear you and I respect your opinion. But having seen first hand through my sister in law the horrors of treatment for cervical cancer, those few quick minutes of a smear test, however awful, are so so preferable to the realities of treatment for cervical cancer. A quick Google of Brachytherapy would be enough to make most people grit their teeth and get a smear. And that's why regular smears are pushed [/quote]
Brachytherapy is very strange!!! I've had 3 of them and didn't want to know what was happening until the process was over!!! It was soooooo weird!

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