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.

I'm sorry you are going through this slatternlymother, it's crap

I too had no symptoms when I was diagnosed with cervical cancer and had a radical hysterectomy at 31. Thankfully I'd had 2 children and no plans for more but it was devastating and lifechanging. In some ways for the better but I wouldn't wish it on anyone.

Good luck with your treatment.

Get your smears done ladies!! It's worth it.

I always crop up on these threads and at risk of repeating myself I have had more internal examinations and smears since my operation than most women have in a lifetime so do not ignore it!!

Thanks for the reminder OP, just called and booked mine now.
Hope your procedure goes smoothly x

Thank you OP.
I always attend my routing smears, but you are quite right in highlighting this issue.

Routing smears?
I meant routine!

Florra I was in the same boat, actually had borderline changes so was a due a repeat smear but then got pregnant. Had it done at my six week check up; I'd say just get it over and done with afterwards as the apprehension was way worse than the reality.

I don't think they're painfull, but the trick is to relax - if you tense it can hurt a bit.

Well, off to the hospital now. It's The Royal Cornwall, so if it's good enough for SamCam, it's good enough for me

Only thing is the waiting in the same bit as all the pregnant ladies waiting for their scans. I was there for DS not long ago

Good luck slatternly.

I'm not far from Tresliske either :)

Great way to catch our attention.

So sorry you are having to go through this and I am sending lots of luck and positivity to you.

I had a colposcopy and loop diathermy when I was 18 as I had abnormal bleeding and was told that if I had waited until I was called for my first smear the situation would have been a lot worse. Scared the life out of me.

I hate having my smears done but it's just something we HAVE to do. We owe it to ourselves and our families.

Thank you for bringing it to our attention again. All the best.

I had my first one at 22 (I'm 30 now). Don't know why I was offered one that early, but I took it all the same.

My Drs surgery runs something called "well woman clinic" which is a block of appointments 2 mornings a week with the nurses just to deal with smears, contraception, etc. It means it's very easy to get an appointment.

I read somewhere that in the US they continue smears throughout pregnancy.

Good luck OP and well done for raising the issue.

"Why is the age 25 in this country? Why?"

MN Campaign?

Good luck, Slattern.

I hope it all goes well today. I've had to have two lots of treatment (loop excision though) so I know all too well how important it is.

My sister is in the US and she was surprised that they test yearly and do a breast exam swell.

Thank you for this thread!!

I've been putting it off for a few months but finally booked in for one during the week. If I hadn't done so this thread would have been the final push.

Best of luck with everything op, thank you for thinking of others at a time when you are under stress.

As another poster said, we owe it to ourselves and our families.

Best of luck to you OP!
mine up to date which was a great reassurance when I had a gynae issue last year!

Do what the OP says!

Xxx

Apparently, the NHS line on this is that since putting the age up to 25, no more girls have died as a result of cervical cancer than if they had been tested at 18. I think that that is utter mince. I read about a 16 year old girl dying of it in the Daily Mail a few weeks back. Obviously she was VERY unlucky to get it at such a young age and to die of it, the poor love. :( But the cold hard fact is that death from cervical cancer is VERY rare in Britain today and the reason for that is because we have an excellent screening programme. This can't be argued: countries that don't have a good screening programme have higher death rates. Cervical cancer is one of the most treatable cancers because of how it is monitored. Are we really writing off the cervical health of a whole chunk of sexually active young women? Even if it saves the lives of five women under 25, IMO it is worth it. It was 18 when I started getting checked, still should be.

Sorry to hear that slattern. But well done for raising the issue here. You are so right. Good luck with the op.

I'm in Northern Ireland, so I was called for my first one just after I turned 19. I rolled up to the doctors, plopped myself down beside the middle-aged nurse who asked me what age I was. When I told her she gave a really impatient sigh, and said "they send those letters out far too young". Made it very comfortable when I then had to remove my pants to allow her to do a procedure that she clearly thought was a waste of her precious time. It was also quite painful. A few months later I was seeing the GP to change my pill and I told her about it. She went absolutely balistic- "WHAAAAT?! If you get that letter, you GO".

I've just had second at 23; different nurse, no pain at all. Felt like someone was tickling my cervix! The results came back abnormal so I have to go again in a few months. I'm worrying about it, but it makes me feel very lucky that I'm at least being monitored. On the other hand, one of my best friends still hasn't gone for one. I don't understand it!

Craic, I had an abnomal result too in October. I am due for a re-test in April and am shitting a brick. In my logical brain I know there's nothing to worry about but still panic you, doesn't it?!

Yeah, mine's in May and I'm peeing my pants! When I got the result I posted in Health about it, some lovely posters made me feel much better about it. They said loads of stuff can give you an abnormal result- point in your cycle, what knickers you're wearing, the soap you're using... Fingers crossed it'll be grand. Hope yours goes ok Bupcakes!

Oh that's interesting craic so just because you have an abnormal result there isn't any need to panic immediately?

In my initial panic I did some very unorganised research- I think in some areas they would send you straight for a colonoscopy, in others they have more of a "wait and see" approach. Sometimes things just sort themselves out apparently, and I was told by the nurse that my age makes for sometimes unreliable results which is why they don't like doing them

Oh right, that makes sense. I hope you get the all clear craic in April x

Best of luck to anyone facing this, let us no how u get on. Xx

I haven't read all the replies so sorry if I am repeating someone else.... but thinking of you slatternly and hope it goes well today.

I had Severe Dyskariosis Cin 3 last year and also had an operation to remove part my cervix, so think we are / were in a similar boat.

I now have smears every 6 months, and was also told that I would poss have trouble with being able to maintain a pregnancy to full term because of my now weakened cervix. I am due to drop my baby any day now though (40 weeks) so it can be done!

Hope your op goes well, and that your home on the sofa with a large box of chocolates and some wine before you know it :)