to not bother with a smear test

[setpieces]

I'm supposed to have them every 12 months due to abnormal cells.

I cannot get an appointment at my GP practice. They have offered me 3 dates I simply cannot do (I'm supporting a parent having an op the week before Xmas, Xmas eve (still with parent) and 2 Jan (away with kids). It took an hour of following hopeless website and booking referrals plus a phone call (engaged) and callback to get this far.

By the time I get the test (assuming calling back at the end of next week as requested is successful) it will be 2 months after I got the letter then another 6-8 weeks for the results.

I might as well wait for the condition to worsen and refer for treatment in 4 months time.

YABU

.. YABU

Wow.
You need a head shake.
Unbelievable.

Do a home hpv test. The lab only tests the smears that come up positive for hpv otherwise they don’t even look at them. If you are negative you have saved yourself a smear.

Finding an hour for a test now versus losing forty years of your life to a preventable illness.

Go into the surgery - talk to someone - arrange and appointment. Make the time.

You can get an appointment, you just can't make the 3 they have offered. You need to get one as soon as possible after 2nd

My god. YABU.

But it's quite literally your LIFE, so crack on and not do it???

You reckon it's best to wait to get cancer and then try (with success very definitely NOT guaranteed!) to get it treated, than to prevent it?!

Well, I am sure your parent is not going to mind you nipping out for an hour to attend an appointment but they may very much mind it if you decide to die because you couldn't be bothered to book a test.
And how would you be referred for treatment when your condition worsens if you haven't been for a test? For all you know, it might have worsened already.

I was on a 12 months schedule for a while. Last time, I had to go for two tests with my surgery and further two with a specialist clinic. The whole process took a year and I don't think any of it was a waste of time or effort. But it's your life.

Make the time OP. It would be utter madness not to. Talking life and death here.

This is a good idea.

Who's going to look after your kids whilst you are having ops, chemo, are dead?

My friend died at 29 from cervical cancer because she delayed a smear. That decision literally lost her her life.

YABU.

Yup, this.

unless they have said they will
actually bother looking at the cells for you - they won’t.

That may not be the case if she already has abnormal cells - they may check more than just HPV status

it depends, are you hpv positive?

Stop being a martyr and get it booked. You can make the time.

No, it's a terrible idea. OP already has (or had at the last smear) abnormal cells. A home test will only provide her HPV status, it won't tell her anything about the status of the abnormal cells.

Find a way to fit the smear test in OP.

Skipping a smear when you have abnormal cells in order to support an adult who is about to have an op is really not necessary or sensible. You’ll be in and out in minutes. Even with travel, it’s going to be what - an hour? And your parent can’t cope for an hour without you?!

Can you still get one at a family planning clinic?

So you can’t leave a parent for 1 hour to get tested. You are incredibly silly.

Don’t be so ridiculous.

You need to prioritise your health and focus on finding a date you can do.

I might as well wait for the condition to worsen and refer for treatment in 4 months time.

this is also flawed logic. Your condition may already have worsened the day after you got your last result. This smear will tell you for sure the stage of your abnormal cells.

im saying worst case scenario because i think you need a wake up call how important this is

So ... who is going to support your parent or look after your kids if you die because you didn't prioritise your health?

You know you have abnormal cells. You know you need to be checked in case. It's not a simple they'll only check for HPV because you have history of abnormal cells. Do what you have to do to get yourself tested. Because literally no one will thank you if you don't and something is missed because of it.

Go to the first offered appointment. Your health is as important as the family you are supporting whilst they have an operation. Your parent will be looked after at the hospital. Tell the staff that you have a crucial health check so you will be away for sometime. They will understand. Your parent will understand. Your parent will feel guilty if you miss the check and the cells get worse. Please do your check up.

I also had a friend who died of cervical cancer at 29.

I can barely believe what I’m reading from the OP.