To think its ok to spit in the street?

[slatternlymother]

There, now I've got your attention...

Go and book a smear test. Yes, YOU.

I'm having emergency treatment tomorrow to remove a large part of my cervix, so I probably won't be able to carry a child to term successfully. I am 24, and otherwise healthy; I don't smoke, hardly drink, exercise regularly, I'm not overweight and I eat more fruit and vegetables than is necessary.

Just get checked. It's really, really important.

Thank you for your time.

op thats awful x

hope all goes well today and thank you for highlighting this

Good luck, Slattern. I hope that the op' goes well and that you recover quickly. Such a lovely thing to do to start this thread although I was ready to come rip you a new one for being a filthy street spitter

Do you mind me asking why you need part of your cervix removed? Do you have C1N3 or is it past that? (Sorry, my knowledge is scant) Are the doctors confident that this operation will rectify any problems? Feel free to tell me to mind my own business though :)

I want to have a smear test, not because anythings wrong, but to be safe, y'know
But they won't let me, because I'm not 25 yet.

The CIN3 is at such a stage where if they let it go longer; I could lose my whole cervix to cancer. I have jumped from CIN2 - CIN3 in a matter of weeks, so they are going to cut out every bit of abnormality to stop the spread; only thing is that there's a LOT of it! And it will leave my cervix rather thin, hence problems if I want another baby. If I left it to go; I could be looking at a full hysterectomy by the age of 25/26 because of the speed of advancement.

A smear test is done with a very soft brush, on the end of a stick about 10cm long. They open your cervix with a plastic speculum, about 2cm in diameter. They then open it up a little tiny bit; it would be a bit like putting two fingers into your vagina and then separating them a little way. Then they pop the swizzle stick into your vagina until they reach the cervix, and just veeeery gently brush up against your cervix. It doesn't hurt; it's a curious sensation though! Then they take out the swizzle stick, pop it in a lab bag to be sent off, and take the speculum out of your vagina. That's it.

Oh, and the nurse usually does it, but you can just double check when you make your appointment.

Katespade - I had my first one when I was 18 (I am now 35) didn't even know about the 25 thing then!

good luck slattern, hope you are ok. Did you have any symptoms?

I had my first at 16 because I wanted to go on the pill. If my cousin had had to wait until 25 she wouldn't be here now. But we have a family history - my Aunt had ovarian and cervical cancer and had a hysterectomy at 32.

Hope all goes well today Slattern. Thinking of you.

Well done Slatternlymother (great name btw!) for bringing this to people's attention. I wish I'd pushed for a smear at age 23 and not allowed Drs to postpone my next check until 25 following the age increase. I developed cancer between my totally clear check at 21 and my next check at 25.

I narrowly avoided chemoradiation and instead had much of my cervix removed. As you say I now have difficulty both conceiving and carrying a baby to term (DS was conceived via IVF and born 3 month prematurely but he's a strapping 1 yo now and fine as far as we can tell). I wish I had booked a private smear, but not too late for these ladies hopefully.

Just to add, am now pg (naturally) with DS2 and have had a cervical stitch so not all doom and gloom by any means but so glad I didn't put my smear off.

I always harangue my friends into booking their smear. It's quick, painless, free and could save your life and/ or fertility. What's not to love?

Ps absolutely all the best for you today love - I hope it goes well. Un-MN hugs xxx

hope you're alright slatternlymother. I am due for another test, so should get on with it, you are right.

Just rang this instance before I forget AGAIN and made my appointment

Thank you, Slattern.

You are so right to bring this to our attention.

I hope the operation goes well for you.

Pps if you have any qs regarding getting or staying pregnant after your surgery am more than happy to have a chat to you as have been through it all very recently. Do PM me if you like! Also, check out Jo's Trust Cervical Cancer forum and site for more info and support, I found it invaluable.

Good luck Slattern hope it went well :)

Good thread OP, sorry you are going through this.

FWIW, both my last smears have fallen within 3 months of having babies and I did find them unusually painful. Don't mean to scare monger, and it may just be because of my own PN 'injuries' but have some paracetamol or something before hand.

That said I was very lucky to go to Uni in Wales so have been having smears since I was 19 and know that normally it is not painful.

Thank you for posting that OP. I'm so sorry to hear of your situation. I like lazarusb had my first smear at 16 because I wanted to go on the pill. I wasnt yet sexually active (short of a bit of snogging and groping), but I was planning on it, and I think my step-DM wanted to give me a short sharp shock about the responsibilities of it all.

She managed it. I did have pre-cancerious cells so the smear was followed up by a colposcopy and laser treatment. I then had followup smears every year for 5 years. Were it not for her intervention (and her insistence that they give me a smear - she was a nurse and VERY persuasive!) I might not be here today.

Good luck for today and thanks for posting about it.

I'm up to date with mine, but wanted to mention that I was booked in for my last one when DS1 was about 8 weeks old and when I turned up they sent me away again as it should be done at least 12 weeks after baby is born. Apparently this is because it is more likely to give an abnormal reading, when it's probably just things calming down back to normal. So by the sounds of others responses, it looks like it is different advice depending on your NHS trust, so probably worth checking when you book.

Thank you slatternlymother , and hope today goes smoothly . As DillyTante says , please take painkillers beforehand as could make all the difference in comfort levels.

I had first smear at 17 (late 80s) & had to be retested as abnormalities found , and had to have many more smears before age 25- no way should we rest till the age of first smear is lowered again

Hope all goes well. I've just booked one while reading your thread.

Just come back from having mine done -it was painless and was in and out within 5 mins. I think it depends on the nurse you have as the last one was agony.

OP thinking about you today - thanks for this thread x

And I didn't have any symptoms btw, to the lady who asked just cropped up out of the blue, but there we are.

Thank you. Embarrasingly I'm 25 and in Scotland, I've never had a smear despite it being available to me since I was 21... I've just booked it for 2nd april.

Wishing you lots of luck, I hope it all works out well for you.

I'm 56 and at my last smear two years ago the doctor performing the test told me my chances of developing cervical cancer were now virtually zero - yet I'll still be having them until I'm 64.

I find it absurd that very low-risk old bags like me can access them yet the under-25s have to argue their case and hope for a sympathetic hearing.

So sorry you're having to endure this slatternlymother.