Abnormal smear - please help. Panicking

[Babyowl20]

I had a phone call this morning from the hospital about my smear test results. They wanted to book me an appointment for this Friday because the results have come back as moderate.

I’m scared to google incase that means I have cancer or if it’s really bad. Has anyone had this previously and it’s turned out okay? I’m completely panicking.

I had the same when I was 24. (Not even sure they give smears at that age now?).

Had laser treatment. I’m now 55 and all the smears I have had since have been fine.

I know it’s really anxiety inducing but the whole point of smears is to catch things like this early and then treat it early so it doesn’t develop.

I do agree that more information at the time of the smear would be helpful.

Thank you for sharing @Petidot1 - I’m 24 at the moment, they send the smear letters out 6 months before you turn 25 where I am, when I called up they said it’s fine to book once you have the letter. I suppose I’m glad I went for the appointment 6 months early now the results have come back like this.

Every one I’ve spoken to who’s had similar results is fine now, which is really reassuring. On one of the letters they sent me it had some information about what would happen on Friday and that the person who does the examination/biopsy can give lots of information about what they find - I’m really hoping they can do any treatment there and then, but I’m not sure how likely that is.

Good luck for Friday OP

I had abnormal cells identified following a smear test. I had a colposcopy appointment a week or so later and had CIN3 (severe?) changes identified. I was given the option of treatment there and then or waiting....I chose to get it over and done with. The colposcopist and nurse assisting her were both lovely and the treatment was over very quickly, with no pain. I had some mild period pain for a few days afterwards but nothing ibuprofen and a hot water bottle couldn’t fix- I used it as an excuse for a Netflix binge!

Does your letter say anything about having alternative transport (other than driving) home? Apparently sometimes when things are done involving your cervix it can make some people feel light headed for a short while. I was absolutely fine after my LLETZ procedure and could have driven (which I would have preferred over making small talk with a taxi driver!)

The waiting for the appointment was definitely the worst bit for me.

I hope the next day or so goes quickly for you OP, and that everything is ok at your appointment- I’m sure it will be

My first smear at 25 came back like yours. I had the colposcopy which was so embarrassing at that age. It came back all clear. For a few years after you have then more regularly than usual and now more than ten years later still no problems down there.

Thank you @MinnieMouseMaze

Thanks for sharing @Yetanothernameneeded - so they could tell you right then what the results were? I really hope it’s the same for me - just the wait for tomorrow’s appointment is affecting me quite badly, I dread the thought of having to wait even more weeks for more results.

It does mention in the letter about possible treatment options, and needing to rest afterwards. It also implies that not everyone requires treatment - a lot of ‘if treatment is needed’ etc. but it doesn’t specifically say if treatment will be carried out.

Thank you for the kind words, at least this time tomorrow it should hopefully be done - I got the earliest appointment they had to offer.

@Shelley54 I’m glad yours was sorted! I’m glad they keep a close eye on things afterwards.

Try and keep a positive mindset and remember this is not cancer. The reason we go for smears is to catch things like this and treat quickly to prevent cancer, and even then it doesn't mean these cells would become cancer.

I went through it 4 years ago, all good.

For the cervical screen. Do they immediately tell you the strain of HPV you have? Or the letter just stipulated ‘HPV positive’ as you posted on the photo.

Was this all you received or they mentioned what possible strain it is?

It's a scary time OP I just had mine and felt on edge waiting for the results.

I had a colposcopy done at 22 as I was to young for a smear test and I had abnormal bleeding. Thankfully all fine and the nurses were so lovely I even had one up my end holding my hand through it all.
She took me in a side room after and got the results straight away.
They got you in so quick which is brilliant!
Good luck for today! x

I forgot to add my recent smear tested negative for HPV and on the letter stated they won't test for abnormal cells. I found this a bit off in all honesty. Not sure if it's the way they do it or not.

Sorry I am new here and will they just say HPV positive or negative? Will they tell you the strain of HPV in the cervical smear results? I am panicking and getting worried about mine.

Thank you @yukka and @pixiedustt! I’ve had the colposcopy now, they confirmed I will need treatment and took a biopsy, results expected in 1-2 weeks which is better than the 6-8 weeks the letter says! In this hospital the way they do things is to wait for the biopsy results before treatment, the doctor confirmed that my cervix did look like the smear results were correct (moderate high grade) but the letter she gave me afterwards said cin Iii which I think is severe(?)

Going to stay off google and take it easy for the next couple of weeks. There isn’t much of a waiting list here so once the biopsy results are back the treatment should be quick and effective.

Thanks again everyone who’s left kind words and shared their experiences here. Just reading through this thread has helped calm my panic.

Wish I hadn’t looked on the screen showing my cervix though.. I could see the abnormal cells which has freaked me out a bit.

Also @PixieDustt One of the doctors I saw explained that they check for HPV first now then call you in yearly if you do have HPV - apparently only changed to this way in December.

Glad it went okay and it's out of the way for you.
Yes I think it does mean severe but that could just be their grading for high grade.
Glad the waiting time isn't long for you.
Out of curiosity when was your last smear if you don't mind me asking?

I think the new way is ridiculous. I only had mine in January just find it odd they don't check for abnormal cells just because HPV has come up negative. Thank you for sharing that x

Thanks @PixieDustt I can’t wait to have the treatment done, although it doesn’t look particularly pleasant, it’ll be such a relief to know it’s been handled.

This was actually my first ever smear - I went in the last week of January.

Totally understand how you feel - i think if I have future smears which come back HPV negative and they don’t check for the abnormal cells, I’ll have a little voice wondering if I have the abnormal cells despite no HPV! Is it an option for you to have another smear privately, where you can request they still check for abnormal cells? (I think I’d do this for my own peace of mind) x

I'm sure it will be a relief once it's all over!
Yeah I think they like you to leave it at least 6 months so I will probably book in for a private at some point.
Oh okay it came at the right time then! X

CIN III still aren't cancer. It's another way of categorising the cells once the doctor has actually looked at the cervix, rather than just 'we know some are there'.

Concentrate upon the present now - they've taken a biopsy, they're going to look at it, they're going to decide upon the treatment and then they'll do a follow up.

I had yearly smears for (I think, it's a bit of a blur now) 3 or five years after the one borderline result. But that was before HPV testing. I think my mother had lots of dodgy smears from the 1960s to the 1980s - she had a hysterectomy in the end for entirely separate reasons (a failed prolapse repair and a large fibroid discovered whilst experiencing severe backpain that also needed surgery - they did the tah so the spinal surgery could go ahead) - still never developed cancer.

Glad the colposcopy went well!

You’re right that the new method of carrying out cervical screening is to check for high risk HPV first, and only if that is present do they go on to check for abnormal cells. There’s some info here (www.jostrust.org.uk/information/cervical-screening/primary-hpv-testing) but it’s basically because only a tiny minority of cell abnormalities/cervical cancer cases develop without a high risk strain of HPV. If you do have HPV but no cell changes you’ll be monitored more frequently than under the old system, so that actually makes the screening programme more effective at preventing cervical cancer. The test for HPV is also more accurate than the test for abnormal cells, which also makes it more effective. Obviously if you’re worried or if you have any symptoms of cervical cancer (bleeding after sex/between periods/after the menopause, pelvic pain, unusual discharge etc) then that’s something you should have checked out, but the new method is safe.

This is why you go for a smear - to catch and treat any changes that MAY cause cancer before they get a chance.

Of course YANBU to be worried but this is just a routine follow up. Go and get further checked & treated, accept any close monitoring they suggest and be relieved that these changes have been caught before they had a chance to become more sinister.

When I was 17 I had an abnormal smear, had a repeat, scans and then a colposcopy and biopsy, then a Lletz procedure. I had annual smears then for 8 years. I've also had 2 cauterisations. Now back to normal smears.
Don't panic.