To share what my Smear nurse said?

[LellowYedbetter]

On Friday I went for my smear ... after two weeks of dreading it. The embarrassment, the awkwardness, what if I smell? What if the nurse thinks I look weird down there? What if .. what if ... what if ...

Well I got there and sat down. The nurse made small talk about unrelated stuff and then sighed and said “I’ve got 12 smears today, all one after another! I’m going to be smeared out by the time I leave work!”

Ok so apart from the “smeared out” comment making me laugh like a giggling school kid I IMMEDIATELY relaxed. This procedure that is a nightmare for the patient is just one of many jobs on that nurses list. There are at least 11 other women having their smear today with this one nurse. As if this nurse is going to remember the smelly fanny of patient number 3, or the hairy legs of patient number 1, or the fat belly of patient number 8 ... it made me realise that although the procedure is a massive deal for the patient, to the nurse it’s just another 20 minute appointment. It helped me. And I’m posting this hoping it might help others?

I had CIN III cells.

Sorry but I really don't get why having a smear is such a big deal for the recipient? I really don't get what the big drama is

Read the thread perhaps?

If, then, you still don't get it, I'd suggest that's more of an issue for you than it is for us.

Not a medical paper but an internet source; none the less:

CIN1 – indicates mild changes; affecting only one-third of the thickness of the surface layer of the cervix. These changes are not cancer, and in most cases do not lead to cancer in the future.

CIN2 – indicates moderate changes; affecting two-thirds of the thickness of the surface layer of the cervix.

CIN3 – indicates more severe changes (not cancer); affecting the full thickness of the surface layer of the cervix.

Even with CIN2 or CIN3 grade changes, the cell changes are unlikely to be cancer.

Read more: healthtalk.org/peoples-experiences/cancer/cervical-abnormalities-cin3-and-cgin/what-cin#ixzz5gFO4Q7Rz

I’m not trying to undermine the distress and anxiety caused by an abnormal smear test but I do have a sense that the severity, cause and consequences of these changes are overstated (or misunderstood) such that some women believe that they have had cancerous cells removed or that they definitely would have gone on to get cancer and have been saved from the next step on the inevitable pathway. I think these experiences are shared and then give an impression that cervical cancer has a higher prevalence than it does.

I know CIN 3 cells aren't cancer and that I might not have gone on to develop cancer. But I'm still grateful for the screening and the opportunity to take an early intervention that might well have stacked the odds in my favour.

I don't know why anyone would be anti-smears. It takes 5 minutes, every 3-5 years.

I went for mine a few weeks ago. Apparently the test has changed. They no longer look for cell changes, because cells change all the time. They are only looking for the HPV virus. If you have the virus detected they send you for antibiotic treatment. But as they now know the virus causes cervical cancer that’s all they are checking for.

I was quite impressed how the treatment has developed in the time I’ve been having screening. It’s a recent change according to my nurse.

If you have the virus detected they send you for antibiotic treatment.

This is not correct. For a start, you don’t use antibiotics to treat viruses.

It’s a case of either watching and waiting or treating the abnormal cells.

I don't think it's fair to take a "smears are nothing compared cancer, just get over your fear and do it" approach. I say that as someone whose maternal aunts have all had cervical cancer, someone who has had borderline results and recalls already and fully expects to also get that cancer at some point. I really value smears and am massively grateful to have a screening scheme and the knowledge that if I develop cervical cancer I probably won't die like my auntie J and probably won't end up needing the extensive treatment like my auntie B and auntie H because screening means I'll likely be diagnosed much earlier. But for some women, past trauma makes smears tortuous, for some women smears are genuinely very painful. It's just not fair to dismiss women's fear and suffering and make light of it.

I don’t think anyone is taking an anti smear position Molly, rather they are pro information. They are saying that women need to be fully informed about the risk of developing cancer and the meaning of the test results so they can reach their own decision on their health choices.

And ‘5 minutes every 3-5 years’ - I’m happy that this is how it has been for you but, if you have read the threads, it is not like that for a good proportion of women. There seems to be a trend towards the test becoming more painful as women get older. Women have different anatomy too that can make the cervix hard to locate.

Me, I was fine 18-30. Had progressively worse experiences as I got older. I’m late 40’s now and experienced a perineum tear at my last test at a sexual health clinic. Repeated again at the GP. Still no successful smear and even if I was prepared to grin and bear it whilst sitting in a puddle of blood, the samples would be contaminated anyway. Issues with smears are way more prevalent than portrayed (as indicated here) and it’s pretty insulting to gloss over them.

I don't know why anyone would be anti-smears. It takes 5 minutes, every 3-5 years.

then RTFT. Many people have gone to great lengths to explain various reasons why they don't go.

PurpleDaisies

I will inform my Dr’s surgery they are giving out misinformation. They said if the test detected the HPV virus, I would be sent to the local hospital for the virus to be treated. Which part is incorrect so I can let them know?

I went for mine a few weeks ago. Apparently the test has changed. They no longer look for cell changes, because cells change all the time. They are only looking for the HPV virus. If you have the virus detected they send you for antibiotic treatment. But as they now know the virus causes cervical cancer that’s all they are checking for.

You seriously need to address your surgery about this misinformation, especially if you are in Scotland because in Scotland the test now screens for HPV and if positive for that then is screened for cell abnormalities. But more seriously, HPV is a virus. You don't treat viruses with antibiotics. In fact, there is no way to cure HPV, which is endemic to the human population in one strain or another, but cells affected by it can be removed, but not with antibiotics .

Op - I love the sound of your "smeared out" nurse

I didn't know suggesting a treat afterwards was a thing. Glad to know I'm normal. I had a glass of wine after mine a few months back as I was feeling kind of violated. I said it to my dh who completely understood.

I'm going to insist that I am considered seriously for the HPV urine test - a smear is bloody painful and if a urine test is effective - why not?.

Antibiotics to treat a virus?! If a health professional has told you this I’d be concerned!!

Maybe they said antivirals and the PP heard antibiotics?

BatsAreCool ... hopefully! (And more likely)

No, there’s no treatment for hpv.

You just monitor and treat cell changes if necessary.

HPV will not be treated with anti-virals. Those are of limited effectiveness, anyhow, but more essentially, they have to be administered very soon after exposure or they are useless. You don't 'go along to the hospital' for antibiotic or antiviral treatment for HPV. You go for a colposcopy and if need be, a biopsy. It may be that the cells may be treated with LEETZ or cone biopsy later but as Purple stated it's usually watch and wait. There's no cure for HPV.

PurpleDaisies

Are you a GP? Or a nurse?

I was really hopeful the treatment had progressed. I’m confused now as to why I was told this if it’s untrue.

I might have misheard or misremembered the antibiotics thing, I was terrified at the time so forgive me. I remember she said anti something. Apologies.

I was a doctor. You can read all about the changes on the NHS website.

www.nhs.uk/conditions/cervical-screening/

Thank you, I’ll give my surgery a call.

Thanks for the link PurpleDaisies
Does anyone know why screening ends at age 64 specifically?

My mum is 62 and when she had her most recent smear at 60 (it was normal, thankfully) she was told that would be her last, because she’d be older than 64 in five years time.

Should she push for another when she’s 64 to be on the safe side? Her results have always been normal so far.