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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be worried about my smear test results?

28 replies

LadyOfTheManor · 08/04/2011 21:39

Evening ladies,
I had a period on the 1st February. I had a smear test on the 23rd February. I then had ANOTHER period on the 25th February. I have since conceived an am pregnant. I got my results today which say;

The cervical smear test taken on 23.02.11 show some minor changes in the cells which may be abnormal. In this situation all that is recommended is an early repeat test in 6 months. Blah blah blah.

Now I'm terrified. If it's cancer I cannot possibly wait 6 months, but they don't do smear tests when you're pregnant. Could it be that the test picked up the fact I was about to have a period (as I gave my last period date as the 1st of Feb and their calculations don't add up?).

What should I do? Speak to my GP? Wait? Is there any chance I can get a repeat when I'm pregnant (as I couldn't go for my routine smear when I was pregnant in 2010 as they wouldn't do it). AIBU to be petrified of dying between now and 6 months time?

OP posts:
Original poster
LadyOfTheManor · 08/04/2011 21:48

Someone put me out of my misery.

OP posts:
whatkatydidathome · 08/04/2011 21:50

you must talk to your GP but I was due a smear when trying to conceive and I was worried about needing a repeat and freaking out (like you) and my GP said don't bother as the "minor changes" take about 10 years to get bad so have the smear after you have the baby.

In general they say "come in now" if it is really iffy looking, not "think about booking a repeat test".

Original poster
LadyOfTheManor · 08/04/2011 21:51

What on earth are minor changes? Does it mean changing from good to bad or bad to worse?

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catsareevil · 08/04/2011 21:52

If they were worried that it might be cancer or precancerous change you wouldnt have been asked to repeat in 6 months, but been informed and referred for and necessary further investigations.
If you speak to your GP about the situation they will be able to advise you in how you should deal with the repeat screening.

Bert2e · 08/04/2011 21:52

They will do smears when you are pregnant - I had 2 done and one 8 weeks after ds1 was born as I had a cervical erosion that needed to be checked. You need to speak to your GP and find out more details and he may well send you off to the colposcopy clinic to have more investigations done and your cervix examined under a microscope - not as bad as it sounds - it's quite interesting really! Chances are nothing is actually wrong - if there were major changes they would have you in way before 6m.

RememberToPlaywiththeKids · 08/04/2011 21:53

oh i wouldn't worry about that at all!!

I had CIN III (major changes with the next step being cancer) and my gynae said to me that for what you describe they do nothing but just retest because cells change all the time and most go back to being normal again with no treatment - just normal 'what cells do' kind of thing. She also said that they are very slow to change hence the 6 months retest period but for me obviously I needed treatment.

now then, here's the good bit - she said giving birth vaginally is like a treatment in that it sloughs all the cells off the cervix anyway, so being pregnant is absolutely brilliant Grin.

Congratulations on your pregnancy and you aren't going to die from your possible changes at all. Really. Book an appointment with your GP for a chat about it all so they can put your mind at rest.

Original poster
LadyOfTheManor · 08/04/2011 21:53

I'm worried because my mum had cervical cancer and I'm not sure how it runs through genes. Bollocks. What if he says "we can't screen you for another 7 months + the 6 months you have to wait after giving birth"? I could possible have gone to worse or even dead by then.

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MrsTittleMouse · 08/04/2011 21:54

You are not being unreasonable to be worried, but the chances are very good that there is no problems at all. I had a dodgy smear test years ago - bad enough to need immediate futher tests. I had a colposcopy - they did a really detailed examination of my cervix and took a biopsy of the dodgy-looking area (ouch!). There was no cancer at all. That is the most likely outcome.

I would really recommend talking to your GP or MW about the results and the pregnancy, but really, the most likely outcome by far is that you are perfectly OK. Minor changes are very common and usually sort themselves out with no treatment, and definitely no progression to cancer. There are just keeping an eye on you to be on the safe side.

Conflugenglugen · 08/04/2011 21:54

I really wouldn't worry:

www.colposcopy.co.uk/abnormalsmear.htm

I had an "atypical" smear test about ten years ago, and the next one (and subsequent ones) were normal. The same thing happened to my sister.

HTH

squeakytoy · 08/04/2011 21:54

Speak to your GP. But I have known a few friends who have had exactly the same result, and gone back six months later, to be told it is all clear. I am not a medical expert, which is why I say speak to your GP, but all I want to say is dont panic, and certainly dont think the worst.

Original poster
LadyOfTheManor · 08/04/2011 21:55

Thanks :) that's reassuring. I shouldn't get cancer, I breastfed Angry and if that's bloody false advertising I shall be mightily pissed off.

OK I'll book an appointment Monday. Bit unfair they gave me the letter today when I can't do sod all for the weekend. Bastards.

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Happymm · 08/04/2011 21:55

First,congrats on being pg. You know you're not being unreasonable, but also think is prob not as bad as it sounds. Have been through all this complete with def pre-cancerous cells-think that's a few stages on from your result. After full cone biopsy still had many times that my tests were coming back as yours, and they'd say the same thing, redo in6months! As had been through so much was always a bit Shock that they'd wait so long, but often, when went back, things had reverted to normal. The changes can also be due to pregnancy hormones changing the condition of your cervix (think this is main reason for not doing smears when pg), so your result would prob come back abnormal IYSWIM? Hope all goes well (((((())))))

MrsTittleMouse · 08/04/2011 21:57

If the changes were severe enough that they looked like they could change into cancer in the next 6 months, then they would not have asked you to book another test in 6 months! They would have done more tests on you immediately.

It's not surprising that you are so concerned, you are pregnant and you must be very upset about your Mum. :( But this is not a diagnosis of cancer. Book yourself in to see the GP, so that you can put your mind at rest.

Original poster
LadyOfTheManor · 08/04/2011 21:58

Thank you. That link was helpful, so thanks for that.

Apart from irregular bleeding and sharp pains I can't find any other symptoms that indicate cancer....I'll get on to my MW and GP Monday morning I think. Thanks so much for your advices :)

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Original poster
LadyOfTheManor · 08/04/2011 21:59

Oh, and sorry if that misread, my mum didn't die from it she had laser and the cancer went away. But it's put it in my mind, I have a smear every year because of it.

I am 24 and thought I was untouchable because of my age but apparently not...

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HooverTheHamaBeads · 08/04/2011 22:02

I have had three lots of abnormal smears. One 'needed laser treatment to zap the abnormal cells, one righted' itself at the next six month smear, one didn't and I had to have a colposcopy which then showed it was normal. I was told at the first one that they has caught it so early that it would have taken more than ten year to become cancerous.

They probably won't do another smear while you are pregnant, and will wait until after you have delivered. Often the process of vaginal birth resurfaces the cervix anyway and fixes it for you.

StewieGriffinsMom · 08/04/2011 22:03

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

irishqueen · 08/04/2011 22:03

i had a smear at my 14 week midwife appointment ( they do do them pg here now) that ended up showing cin 3 cells.
I went to copolscopy clinic and was examined but no biopsy done due to pg.
Tbh i pat my shants and cried but after speaking to the consultant and having it explained to me i am having it redone in May . My 5 week old is snuggled up beside me ... still worried but it is just cells that might become cancerous. i might get hit by a bus tomorrow and i will get it treated if necessary soon. Point is it didnt affect my pregnancy and dont worry too much ... congrats x

tomhardyismydh · 08/04/2011 22:06

if it helps i had similar had 6 monthly smears, all together 3 the 3rd was normal so will be called back early.

i was very worried and the nurse explained to me that it is not cancer and tends to change back to normal.

the nurse explained, there are 3 stages of abnormal. then borderline, then 3 stages of pre cancer cells, then obviously cancer cells at different stages.

she explained that detecting any thing from abnormal borderline and even pre cancerous does not mean cancer will develop as treatment is simple and effective. according to her it would take upto 15 yrs to develop cancer if even at all from detecting abnormal would take 15 trs. so your results do not detect anything life thretaning.

i would talk to gp for advice and reasurance but i dont think this should worry you.

congratulations by the way

tomhardyismydh · 08/04/2011 22:07

yearly not early

dexter73 · 08/04/2011 22:29

I had a smear test when I was pregnant as I was due my 3 year check. My doctor did it for me.

Original poster
LadyOfTheManor · 09/04/2011 07:19

Thanks for all your help. I've figured I won't die by Monday so I'll speak to him then and see what can be done. I'm hoping my cervix was just being awkward because of my 2nd unexpected period that month. Saying that the nurse had "dig deep" to find what she was looking for because was cervix was "right in my bottom"...so let's hope it's that. I am reassured now, thanks so much:)

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nikkiiii · 09/04/2011 07:39

Try not to worry (as hard as it is) as you've done the right thing and if there are any problems they've spotted it early. I had the same result about three years ago and the hardest thing is waiting the time until you can have the next test as it does tend to weigh on your mind. Hopefully like me you will then find the next one is clear and then they will usually test you annually for a while.

activate · 09/04/2011 07:50

this is the way smears work

about 50% of smears come back with minor changes that are just a natural part of what's going on down there and the next smear, within a year normally, shows that it's reversed

There are then three stages of stuff that they are slightly more perturbed about - all of which are NOT cancer, they are cells that are changing / changed that mean that POSSIBLY over the next couple of decades the cells MIGHT change into PRE-cancerous cells

It's Cervical dysplasia
CIN I - mild, a few cells have changed, they don't do anything
CIN II - moderate, about half cells have changed they'll refer you to have a closer look (colposcopy) and possibly remove the cells with a minor op then you'll have more regular checks for a couple of years
CIN III - severe, all the cells are changed - they treat you - it's not Cancer

I hope the knowledge about what it means and that you should be very unconcerned about it as you can have a check a few months after the birth and they will more than likely have resolved

Original poster
LadyOfTheManor · 09/04/2011 07:55

Wow, you know a lot. Great thanks :)

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