To think I might have cervical cancer?

[TinkyWinky55]

Posting here for traffic after very little response in chat. I hope that’s okay.

I have always had my smears and have never had any abnormal results, but recently started experiencing some changes to my cycle.

firstly, I had bleeding after sex mid cycle. I didn’t worry too much as I’d heard of this happening on a rare occasion to some friends. This was a few months ago.

Ever since, I have had some strange bleeding at the time of my periods. Basically, I’m getting a couple of days of spotting before my period really starts. It’s a heavy period but always has been.

Other than that, I’ve been getting loads of discharge. Way more than normal. To the point I’ve had to rush to the bathroom and am contemplating wearing pads to deal with it.

im really worried… awaiting an appointment with the nurse. Has anyone been in this situation? If so, what was the outcome? I’m a 33 year old mum to two young kids. My last smear was 2 years ago. Feeling really frightened. 😞

I’m so sorry I don’t have advice but I wanted to bump for you x

Bumping for you. I haven’t had cervical cancer but I have had abnormal cell changes and colposcopies. I had low levels of cell changes but these recovered without treatment. It is a scary time.

You’re doing the right thing getting checked out. In my experience the NHS is very quick and efficient at getting testing/examinations done wherever there’s a chance of cancer. Hope you get some reassurance soon.

i don't have advice and also just wanted to support. you've done the right thing to just book an appoitnemtn with Doctor. it may be helpful to write things down so you don't forget the symptoms, particullarly if you are anxious. But that's all you can do, and you are doing it. well doen for not avoiding.
you can't do any more- hope you don't have to wait long for more information

You are absolutely doing the right thing by getting it checked. Definitely create a diary of what is happening & when. On the plus side, you are up to date with your smears and irregular bleeding can be caused by other issues- not just cancer. Hormone changes can cause things like cervical erosion which creates irregular bleeding. Have you changed contraceptives recently?

Thanks all. I haven’t changed contraception. Haven’t been taking oral contraception for a while (at least a year). The only medication that I stopped taking at a similar time to my symptoms starting was sertraline (an anti depressant). I highly doubt that could cause any of these symptoms though.

Hi OP.

i have had severe cell changes and treatment, and I really understand your fear.

i just wanted to reassure you that spotting before your period can be completely normal and it’s usually hormonal. 1-2 days before your period is not really anything to worry about and is usually to do with progesterone levels.

bleeding after sex is also possible to have many other causes, not necessarily anything to worry about cervical wise.

you’re doing the right thing by seeing the nurse, and i hope they can reassure you x

I had all these symptoms and my nurse discovered a cervical erosion at my smear. I’m waiting to have it removed but the increased discharge sounds very similar. With clear smears the chance of cervical changes are very low and erosions are so common they are noted as a form of “normal”. I’d obviously still attend your GP and get things checked but I wanted to add that there’s many “normal” things that can cause the same symptoms as cancer

Just a thought but if you are covid vaccinated, how recently did you have your vaccine? I’ve got a good few friends who experienced spotting and heavier than usual bleeding following their second vaccine, and a couple who didn’t have a period at all for couple of cycles. Definitely seems to have an impact.

Oh yes that’s true. Since my last covid vaccine I’ve been spotting for 1-6 days before my period.

This was exactly me all the same symptoms. I was so concerned saw the nurse who referred me on a two week wait for a colposcopy. The doctor saw me and confirmed I had a cervical ectroptian/erosion. I was so relieved. Big hugs

See your GP and ask for a referral to see a gynecologist. Don't mess about and waste your time wondering what if. It'll probably be nothing but get going.
I'm waiting for some labs and one of the tests was for "tumour markers". No harm in asking the doctor for it too.
See you doctor instead of worrying. Come what may the issue is not knowing.
Good luck OP!

I had this for years and years from the age of 25-40, worsening discharge, spotting up to a week before period. Like clockwork.

Smear normal, ultrasound scans normal, no HPV. No STIs, some thrush though. I also had an erosion treated by colposcopy but this may have been incidental, as it still happened until recently.

My problem I think is hormonal fluctuations. Now I'm on HRT for perimenopause, and the mini pill for fed-up-ness, it's disappeared = hormonal.

Do get it checked but I don't think there's any cause for panic x

Thanks everyone. My last Covid vaccine was in December. I also had Covid in January. These don’t seem to coincide date wise with the bleeding/discharge starting so I don’t think they’d be linked in any way.

Im seeing the nurse on Thursday. Absolutely hate the waiting. And I know I won’t get answers on Thursday, it’ll be more waiting I’m sure. I suffer with my mental health anyway so this sort of thing is so hard to deal with.

So I also had all these symptoms. Since it started I've had bloods done twice, 2 smears, a colposcopy.... no cause was found, everything was normal.

I'm pregnant at the moment, but basically had periods like you described for the last 4 years (a few days of spotting before my period fully kicked in etc). The only thing is that a uterine fibroid showed up on my pregnancy ultrasounds and apparently fibroids can cause it.... but it's not causing me any other bother.

You're 100% right to get it checked out and do all the tests, but rest assured that it might just be something minor.

By any chance do you have a coil in?

My bleeding is exactly like yours and has been for around 3 years (since i got the coil in)
I bleed after sex
spot for days before my period
bleed during ovulation

i have had various smears carried out but all seems ok and it is the coil causing the issues. I have learnt to just live with it though as I do like having the coil in.

The 'flooding' discharge could be due to a fibroid - I have the same, and now wear those 'period pants' pretty much all the time as more comfortable than a pad. A fibroid could also explain the change in bleeding. But, totally understand why you're anxious - you're doing the right thing going to see the nurse, and hopefully they'll be able to give you some reassurance that there's nothing immediately grim up there while you wait for any test results.

Thanks again everyone.

No I don’t have a coil fitted, so not down to anything like that.

im anxious about the nurse appointment also because I have a really hard time with smears. The speculum is always very tricky to put in. I’ve had two children and have never had issues with sex with any of my previous partners, but for some reason, the speculum is very problematic and smears are a long and painful process, which result in me bleeding. Actually, I was once turned away because they just couldn’t do it, believe it or not. (That was pre-children, and fortunately they’ve always been able to find a way since). I’m just hoping Thursday’s appointment isn’t too traumatic.

@TinkyWinky55 glad to hear you’ve got an appointment- let us know how you get on.

Let your nurse know you’ve had previous problems as they might be able to use a smaller speculum. Try putting your hands under your bum to help tip your pelvis and have a couple of paracetamol before you go (and a stiff drink when you get home!). It’s not easy to relax when you are already worried and someone is coming at your growler whilst wearing a head torch but the less tense you are the easier it will be. Have you tried anything like rescue remedy to calm your nerves? I’ve not tried it myself but I know others that swear by it.

OP your synptoms could be many many different things. I've had similar symptoms in the past and they never found a cause and they resolved. If you have regular smears it's basically impossible that it's cervical cancer and the point in smears is they pick up on very very early changes that take years to become cancerous. But do go to the doctor and tell them everything. I find with these things it's good to make notes of all your symptoms as there's a few things going on and easy to forget once at the appointment.

I have very similar symptoms to you. Last smear was all fine. I phoned my gp on Friday and have an appointment allocated at ten past 9 today (I've been up since 5am worrying about). Like you I've always had issues with speculums, they've struggled to do it in the past and I end up bleeding. I'm concerned obviously as I have young children. It can be a great many things though, cervical erosion, fibroids, abnormal bleeding is very common with the mini pill. I put my hnads under my bum to tilt my pelvis, take paracetamol just after and always take a pad in my bag so I can put one on after they are done. Maybe try a rescue remedy like Kalms beforehand to see if that will help you feel less tense.

I think your health anxiety isn't helping things, is there any mindful podcasts you could listen to
to try and help? Are there breathing techniques, mind exercises that can help? Basically what I'm getting at is that I'd try to do something to help the anxiety. I think that is leading you to think about the worse case scenario. Best of luck on Thursday.

@TinkyWinky55 hope you got on ok today x

Great that you are seeing your GP/Nurse. I had this and it was a cervical erosion. You are up to date with your smears which is reassuring. All the very best op and treat yourself to something nice after your examination (cake, wine, etc.)

Hi all,

Sorry for the late update.

I saw the nurse on Thursday who looked at my cervix and said everything looks fine. They swabbed but didn’t do the usual smear type test as they didn’t think it was necessary. The swabs came back that I have thrush. She said the infection appeared to be high up? Not too sure what exactly that means. I’ve been given medication for this.

She asked me to please book in with the GP for further examinations for the abnormal bleeding etc. Another thing I’ve noticed is that my boobs painfully sensitive before my period. I’ve never really suffered from this before. I’m wondering if this could be some sort of hormone change, but what would cause that? GP appointment booked for the 21st.

Today, I’ve started spotting. Just a little blood when I wiped this morning and nothing since. It’s so strange!

Please go to your GP! Any abnormal bleeding is a sign you might have cancer.
I never missed a smear test but I had bleeding during/after sex so my GP sent me for an ultrasound. I ended up having a physical examination and punch biopsy straight after, the gynaecologist said she could feel a mass and that in her experience it was probably cancer and I was sent for MRI and PET/CT. A week later, diagnosed with stage 4b oligometastatic cervical cancer, metastasised to my spine.
That was a year ago, I had radiotherapy and chemotherapy and then had to wait three months for the results of the treatment. Fortunately everything except a tiny area in my spine has gone. I’ve had a lot of issues from the radiotherapy but I’ve been incredibly lucky that it was diagnosed when it was; another month or two waiting to seek advice from my GP and I literally would not be here now.
Please please please make an urgent appointment as soon as you can!

I’m so sorry to hear what you’ve been through @Skynorth . I’m glad your treatment has been successful and I hope you make a full recovery.

Do you mind if I ask if you experienced any other symptoms? I’m experiencing the spotting before my periods start, along with really sore boobs the week before my period. Both of these are v unusual for me but I suppose in my case, it could be hormone related.