Cervical cancer worry, please talk me down, terrified

[NutshellInAHole]

Back in February I went to the GP with an abnormally heavy period. She checked my cervix and saw what she assumed to be a harmless cyst but asked me to go back within 6 weeks so have it rechecked. With Covid etc I’ve not been able to get an appointment so this recheck was today. Well ... she now sees a few more of these little lesions and has referred me to gynea. She says she doesn’t think it is cancer but can’t 100% promise me that it isn’t. I’m terrified. I’ve just turned 40. No other symptoms thankfully, no bleeding inbetween periods, no bleeding during sex ... even my periods have returned to normal since that initial but still. She said there was also a lot of discharge there so has taken a swab. I’m sat in dr’s car park, don’t want to go home as I know DH will ask and I don’t want to talk about it.
She said she still thinks they’re harmless but can’t risk taking chances. She had not put it through the 2 week cancer pathway but has put the referral down as urgent.

Has anyone had experience of this? On the other hand if I hadn’t gone for that initial appointment I’d be none the wiser!! I’m so scared. I’ve worked in oncology so I know what awaits me if it is that.

To someone who isn't used to examining a cervix, I think it's reasonably easy to see something that looks a bit funny even if it's relatively normal. Things like cervical ectropian can look pretty strange, but are generally harmless. It's good you've had a referral though. I had a few odd looking things on mine a few years ago (and also had 6 weeks straight of bleeding, like a period that just went on and on). It was biopsied, but was nothing in the end, just one of those things, and I've had no issues since.

When was your most recent cervical smear? If you've been keeping up on them, hopefully that should be reassuring, but it's good you're getting it checked. I'd just try not to panic too much in the meantime (easier said than done).

She said that just to cover herself I think, try not to worry.

I used to be able to feel nobbly bits up there until I had a colposcopy.

Not exactly like that but I did find a lump in my breast and convinced myself it was cancer. GP didn't think it was cancer but referred to breast specialist to check who didn't think it was cancer but ordered ultrasound to check. It was completely fine, totally benign. Hopefully you'll have a similar experience

To someone who isn't used to examining a cervix, I think it's reasonably easy to see something that looks a bit funny even if it's relatively normal. Things like cervical ectropian can look pretty strange, but are generally harmless.

This. It's so unlikely to be cancer, and on the slight chance it is, it will be early stage as you don't have symptoms.

My money is on cervical ectropian, as GPs are generally crap at recognising it.

Hi OP,

If GP thought it could be remotely connected to cancer they would've sent you through the 2 week wait pathway but she hasn't!

Try not to overthink and scare yourself - easier said than done, I know!

When was your last smear?

Are you up to date with smears ?

Yes next smear due next year and they have always been fine which Dr said is another reassuring sign. I’ve just looked up cervical ectropian from this thread which has also eased my mind a little so thank you so much to everyone that has replied

Also, does anyone know what the gynae appointment will entail? The dr said something about dying the lesions?! How on earth do they do that? And will it hurt?

I've had ectropion before, several times in fact.
It's usually caused by hormones I believe.

What is worrying and being in a huge panic about something that probably won't happen going to achieve?
Just stop.
Take deep breaths and calm down.
Negativity attracts negativity so be positive and strong.get the facts and wait and see.

I’ve had a colposcopy before.. they squirt in some iodine ( don’t remember how, this didn’t hurt) and look in there with sone sort of microscope... I found it uncomfortable but not painful.,
Also , mine was urgent referral from my smear and it was still ok ( cin3, so I had to zap the cells in the end) but apparently for most people, to develop to cancer or ore cancer takes like 5-10 years so if you are up to date with smears it’s likely going to be early/treatable /not a worry even if it is cin.. I was terrified too so I know how you feel, here’s hoping it’s all ok for u

I had cervical ectropian with random bleeding, no other symptoms. GP was completely flummoxed and two-week pathwayed me. I absolute panicked. Colposcopy nurse said it was ectropian the second she looked at it. Hormonal caused, utterly harmless. Fingers crossed it’s something utterly easy peasy, which it most likely is.

There’s also something called nabothian cysts as well that it might be.

Try not to stress if she had the slightest inkling it was suspect she'd have gone down the 2 week wait pathway, plus you've kept up with smears

Its horrible though when stuff like this happens. had similar a few years ago, abnormal bleeding and got sent for a scan and biopsy. and scared myself silly waiting for results etc. Even though I'd had clear smears etc

Turned out nothing was wrong and it was put down to my coil which I had removed and within a couple months it settled

Hugs to you

Hang in there, OP. I'm undergoing investigations for possible liver cancer at the moment, and it's truly terrifying. Finding it so hard not to think about the worst case scenario. We just have to stay positive, though, if we can. It's good that they are investigating and it might turn out to be nothing.

Hang in there.

Re the actual appointment, you sit on a special chair, scoot to the end and they insert the speculum. So far, so smear. They then use a special vinegar swab to wipe your cervix which makes any cells show up. This doesn’t hurt. They then look using a colposcope (which doesn’t go inside you) to see the cells closely. They can generally diagnose from visual but they may choose to biopsy as they’re there anyway. If it’s CIN (precancerous cells) they may choose to take them away there and then. They put a tiny injection of anaesthetic into your cervix (this also doesn’t hurt, just feels like a momentary tiny period pain, I’d say) and then they can remove the cells by their chosen method (either cold treatment, laser or using a hot loop diathermy which cuts and cauterises). You won’t feel any of it. And you might want a quiet afternoon with a blanket but I had no pain, no bleeding and no downtime really.

However, if it’s just ectropian, they generally leave it as it goes away in its own.

Don’t worry though, cervical cancer is very slow to grow and it’s so unlikely to be that if you’re up to date with smears.

I had the same - panicky looks at the GP, hushed voices. They phoned me with an appointment to see the specialist whist I was driving home from the GP's surgery. 3 days later, it took the gynae consultant one look to say it was nothing.

Thinking of you. I have terrible pressure in my pelvic area and lumps on the entrance to my vagina. I have a smear booked Tuesday. I’m terrified but as everyone says, take it day by day xxx