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.

How does that work?

I'm not physically in the country then.

Which is fine and shows that clearly your surgery do book appointments in advance is your were offered those dates.

So phone in a week or so and get more dates for Jan. What exactly is the issue as I’m not seeing one?

Free healthcare that I can't get an appointment for you mean? I've already said I'll look at paying privately but I can't remember my full history which I think would be beneficial as I've had treatment for abnormal cells previously.

My dad put everything first ignoring his symptoms thinking he had time my mum was ill so his priority by the time he looked for help it was too late.

But will you have a clear conscience if things go wrong and you have to tell your "folks and kids" you're dying?

Most sexual health clinics do drop in clinics for smear tests

Your sounding like your putting up barriers to avoid the appointment

Have you located your local Sexual Health clinics OP?

Have you tried this route before considering private?

You’re an absolute idiot, YABU

You’re playing Russian roulette with your health, not a good idea.

Well you’ve already decided. So why are you asking?

It’s ridiculous that you’re not prioritising this smear test above everything else. You’ll struggle to work and look after family members when you’re dying of cancer. Drive the 300 miles. Go to the sexual health clinic. Go private. Stop making excuses.

Also OP, are you willing to say which county you are in? (Again, just assuming you are in England).

If so, I can point you in the right direction of your areas Cancer Alliance. They work closely with Cancer Research UK Cancer Champions, who work in various settings such as GP surgeries, Sexual Health Clinics etc. I have previously worked in Cancer Alliance.

One of the main things Cancer Champions do is promote and organise cancer screenings. I’ve known many clinics and centres to have drop in cervical screening days.

If you are truly struggling to find an appropriate appointment please reach out.

OP, as you appear to have made your mind up I'm not sure why you've asked.

Posts like this make me really fucking angry. My DSis got cancer at just 22 years ago. Thankfully she felt something was wrong and her GP listened and referred her for an early smear. The treatment that followed was horrific and the only reason she is still here is because it was caught early. I wouldn’t wish what she went through on anyone. Stop making pathetic excuses and book the test

Cervical cancer survivor here (who had zero symptoms). YABU. Get an appointment as soon as you can after January. Trust me the procedures you have to have if you do get cancer far outweigh the inconvenience of a smear test.

How?

Agreed. The rationale of, I'll just wait until my condition worsen, is f-ing ridiculous.
If OP can't manage a test now what will magically change in a few months? Children's needs could change. Parents' needs could increase. How does OP think she'll manage that with potential health needs herself? It boggles.

For goodness sake... abnormal cells does not mean death.
A lot return to normal on their own.

Either read your notes online and make a copy via one of the nhs or patient online apps. If you can't email and request a test there are private ones to be had within the next 2 weeks. I looked at random hospitals in different regions 2nd December onwards, many offer evening appointments. They are £180-200. But it's your health.
You can make an appointment though, it's not impossible.
Surely if you have been referred for treatment you can contact your consultant direct and ask for a smear test ?

True But not always. I had abnormal cells removed with a leep procedure. Had to go back the following year for a smear. If I hadn't then they wouldn't have found that abnormal cells were back, I had to go under GA so they could try and remove more and biopsy them . Which turned out to be cervical cancer. I was fortunate that was caught early enough (1b2) that I " just" had a radical hysterectomy ( big op) but luckily didn't have to do chemo rads and other things. However had I not bothered to go for the smear it could have well spread much further

If you search for UK walk in smear tests you may well find one local to you. As I said you should be able to read and screenshot your notes online or request they be sent to you.

Type in your local area and smear. There are often different places you can get an appointment. There are in our local area but the GPs often don't tell people that - who knows why?

Just take half a day off and go to a sexual health clinic walk in centre op. You can do it locally or near your parents. You can get a copy of your medical records from your GP on an app. Take that with you and explain they need to look at the cells.

Or get an appointment in early January.

They've offered you 3 appointments and you aren't able to make any of them! What exactly is it you want them to do?