About smear test

[elegangle]

Last week my GP reminded me that I was late (very late) for my smear test.

So I've just gone and had it done but the nurse said it may not be tested as I had not received a call up letter. I told her that I did but it was a while ago (2 years) and I did not receive any reminders other than the initial call up letter. She said that as I was now out of synch with my every 3 year call ups and it is a whole year before the next one is due they may refuse to test it.

Surely this is ridiculous. I can understand that they may not do it early if you have turned up to all your call ups but I haven't had one for five years.

AIBU to think that it is daft to try and make me wait another year or has the nurse got this all wrong?

[PennyMcPink]

Are you joking? You seriously think healthcare professionals, who occupy such a trusted position in society should abuse that trust by lying to their own patients?

You think that women should be subjected to invasive, unpleasant, and woefully unreliable 'tests' (the outcomes of which often jeopardise the safety of their pregnancies) just so GPs can pay their heating bill?

I've heard it all now!

[MrsDoylesTeaParty]

I will never have one either and agree with Penny. I can't believe they haven't made them less intrusive to ensure the many, many women who find smears awful will get tested. I looked online and you can do your own but at the moment you have to pay for it through a private company... Same with hpv urine tests.

Stop guilt tripping women!

[Cherylene]

Lie back and think of the GP's funding

[QueenArnica]

Wow just wow at some of the comments.
Following a routine smear last year and with no symptoms I was diagnosed with cervical cancer. Cut a long story short I had a radical hysterectomy and my ovaries and lymph nodes removed.
Woman up and have a smear test. No one bloody likes them but they do save lives.

[CPtart]

I'm a practice nurse that does smears. Your nurse is talking rubbish.

[Borogoves]

I had one smear test 15 years ago. I am now in my mid-forties and don't plan to have another one unless I start having worrying symptoms. I don't have any of the risk factors and feel comfortable with my decision. My GP has also finally got the message and I no longer get bombarded with letters

[elegangle]

Actually the reason why I hadn't had the smear done was as Penny outlined but seeing as I had just lost a debate with my GP over a blood test that i see no point in having i decided not to argue over the smear. I don't mind having it done but just see it, in my case, to be a waste of money (much like the blood test and the inevitable fallout the results will bring...sigh)

Sometimes there is just so much waste in the NHS, but I guess that is a debate for another day.

[PennyMcPink]

Following a routine smear last year and with no symptoms I was diagnosed with cervical cancer. Cut a long story short I had a radical hysterectomy and my ovaries and lymph nodes removed

Proving my point precisely - had you had an annual HPV test from when you became sexually active, the HPV infection that caused your cancer would have been detected way before it got to a stage that required such traumatic treatment.

I'm genuinely sorry that the NHS failed you in this way.

[FuriousFate]

I live in the US and we have them every five years here, so you're right on track according to my OB/GYN. This only seems to be post children though.

[DisneyMillie]

As I understand it you can get cervical cancer without HPV it's just rarer. I had issues with a smear a few years ago (CIN3 so not cancer yet but needed lletz treatment to prevent possible cancer) and they tested me for HPV.

I didn't have it and therefore went back to 3 yearly instead of having to have 10 years of annual smears.

They implied I was unlucky but it happens.

[PennyMcPink]

I'm sorry, but you were misinformed. All cervical cancer its caused by HPV infection.

Its often glossed over as HPV is (obviously) sexually transmitted, HPV causes cervical cancer, so effectively cervical cancer is a sexually transmitted disease.

Doctors are, understandably, reluctant to tell a cancer patient that their illness is effectively an STD.

[Owllady]

This isn't true?
I was a couple of years late and I got the result within 2 weeks (it was a couple of months ago)

[PennyMcPink]

This is quite useful.

[Cherylene]

The future for cervical cancer screening is HPV testing. If it is clear, then you will have less frequent tests, and if not, then you will go on to cytology smears.

The needs for screening are changing as the younger people who have been vaccinated reach the age when they start having smears. This has always been the high risk group.

The higher risk group will change to older women who have traditionally been low risk because they tend to change partners less frequently. More people are taking on new partners later in life. And of course they are not offered vaccination.

I noticed that a cancer charity that was previously targeting the younger age group put out a press release about a survey they had done (self selected) of over 50s not going for testing. This will be the new group to target and pressure (and no doubt keep this group in existence )

People should be given the information to be able to understand and make their own mind up, with respect to their own personal circumstances.

[Cherylene]

High risk HPV is found in 99.7% of cervical cancers.

[PickleFish]

What about, say, someone who never had sex, or never had unprotected sex? I think at the moment they don't have to have smear tests - wonder if they could get the HPV test to show they're clear, and then only have to go in if and when they become sexually active? There must be some proportion of women who are in that position at the time the screening starts (25?) and some even throughout their adult lives.

[Cherylene]

The downside of moving from cytology testing is that very occasionally other gynaecological cancers are picked up accidentally. It is not an effective screening test for these anyway. But it is a bit tough on those few women that it helps.

[QueenArnica]

This is actually pissing me off now...I do NOT feel the NHS failed me and find that comment really bloody patronising. I feel lucky to be alive and that is thanks to the NHS

[Cherylene]

Exactly picklefish. Although you should not need to 'show' you are clear. You should be tested for your own peace of mind, if that is what you choose to do.

[Sallystyle]

Do not tell people to 'woman up and have a smear test'

You have no bloody right to tell others what to do.

It's a personal decision, having a smear or not having a smear.. both valid decisions. Women need to stop telling other women what they should do with their own bodies.

[emeraldlakes]

There seems to be a lot of misinformation and fear surrounding cervical cancer. I really can't stand the 'you have to get it done' comments. Not to mention if I want to opt out of the procedure I have to first make an appointment to discuss my decision at the GP surgery. As well as letters, phonecalls and being unable to visit the GP for anything else without having the receptionist nagging at me each time that I need a smear test. It's ridiculous. It's my choice to make an informed decision about my own well being. I see that the surgery isn't all that concerned about my health in offering an alternative, more reliable HPV test though.

[QueenArnica]

I'm referring to those who say how unpleasant the experience is.

And no one has the tight to tell me that the NHS bloody failed me.

[SoggyBottoms]

This thread is eye-opening. How do you get tested for HPV? Is it a blood test? Can you request it at the GP?

[ToadsforJustice]

emeraldlakes - you don't need an appointment with your GP to opt out of cervical screening. This is just a local policy and a ploy to bully you into submitting to a smear test. This happens at the surgery where I work. Your appointment with be an ambush between a GP and a Practice Nurse who will try to convince you to screen there and then. You have a right to opt out (you were opted in without your agreement - probably) so demand the paperwork the next time you visit your GP.

[Cherylene]

www.gov.uk/government/publications/cancer-screening-informed-consent Consent rules

Soggy - I think you may have to get a test privately or go to Sweden or something at the moment. It is only done as part of a triage process on your smear sample here, at the moment but I think it will come in for everyone in the next few years.