I think I may have cervical cancer, please please talk to me

[Greensleeves]

I am frightened

Major, major TMI alert here.... but am not going to namechange as if anyone knows anything I really need advice

And I will go see my GP on Monday definitely, I have just got back from a week's holiday and have been worrying constantly the whole time

background is that I have NEVER had a smear test (serious phobia, two horrific births) and yes I know I am a fucking idiot and this is all my own fault

so basically I had a little fresh red bleed before my last period, two days of nothing and then a fairly normal period

then a few days of nothing, then started to get brownish, blackish discharge

this continued for nearly a week

then suddenly started to get what seemed to be another, really heavy period, with lots of bright red blood and some huge clots

now id just seeming to tail off like a normal period

I have googled it to death and it looks most likely to be cervical cancer, and all the sites seem to say that if it is cancer, it will be very advanced by the time abnormal bleeding occurs

I have hardly slept all week and am terrified

please talk to me

Thanks for that mental image, Greeny...

Any smell at all or fever?

Have you considered that you may actually be suffering complications of the rectocele which may have actually lead to a small hole into the vagina and you may just have an infection?

Do you know how many women die in their 70s having never had a smear test and NOT of cervical cancer?

I have had some interesting periods like this too - a couple of days of normal bleeding, then nothing and I go back to nice pants and then whammo flooding and ten days of what looks like brown gunge and bits coming out.

There's no clinical reason that can be found. I think it's just sods law. I've not got cervical cancer either. Please take a deep breath because this in all likelihoods won't kill you but being very stressed just might.

It could be any number of things Greensleeves, but you know that there's only one way to find out don't you?

You really need to see your GP quite soon, and you will need a vaginal examination and a smear and possibly swabs. Have you got someone you can take with you? How do you feel about that?

Do keep talking to us, we can't tell you one way or another what is going on but we can offer support whilst you wait

Retired GP here. This sounds nothing like cervical cancer. Lots of good advice above. Please try to calm down a bit.

YY to no more Googling. I started bleeding after sex at certain times of the month.

Went in in panic, as I have had CINII/III about 10 years ago and LEEP treatment.

Had swab, had internal exam.

GP could already see eroded cervix.

Went to consultant, she did another internal, she could also see very eroded cervix.

At certain times of the month, it drops lower, and my husband is well endowed.

Now, at such times, we have sex in other positions, like spooning, to minimise cervical contact.

No more bleeds.

Sounds like a hormonal imbalance. Periods that stop and start are very common- I always used to have a no-bleed 2 day gap then another shorter bleed and black/brown blood is very common.

Not being critical, but huge weight gain could also be messing up your hormones- fat secretes oestogen cells , so it could be weight related in the same way that skinny women often have no periods.

Greensleeves try not to worry. I have endo and I get similar to what you had. It is scary when it happens though as there's elways an element of what if??? Go and be checked over and if you are terribly scared of smears your Dr can prescribe a slight sedative. (hugs)

Greensleeves - did you read what LikeGarlicChicken said above - make sure you do.

Firstly let me give you a very un MN ((((((hug)))))). As a health phobia sufferer I can tell you I have torn myself apart in the past over various ailments which I talked myself into being a cancer of this that or the other.

Google is NOT your friend as someone else said above. Stop googling - you will only ever find dreadful stuff. 10 years ago I had a blood test which showed mildly low sodium levels - the GP scarcely mentioned it but I googled and read it could be a sign of cancer and sent myself into orbit about it. 10 years on as far as I know the lowish sodium is still there - but more to the point I am still here too!

I reckon this is hormone related and NOT cervical cancer. Please please stop googling - it will honestly only ever give you the bad stuff.

Oh greeny, don't worry, I had periods like this in my early twenties, went on for a few months bleeding off and on, sometimes fresh, soemtimes dark. I had (lots of) smears and tests and they never found any reson why.
The lovely female doc in my gp practise said 'sometimes womens bodies go weird you know, nothing to worry about, and a LOT more common than you think' and looking on here she is right.

STOP googling, you can google a headache and convince yourself you have a brain tumour, it doesn't help!

I had spotting between periods for a couple of months which turned to large amounts of blood loss.

Had an ultrasound and they found a uterine polyp which they thought was probably causing the bleeding I had removed about a month later and no abnormal bleeding since.

Greensleeves- sorry I have no experience of cervical cancer - am dealing with breast cancer myslef.

I do know from my own experience that googling can be terrifying. Please stop using the internet and just see your GP asap. Those of us dealing with other cancer have learned this. Take one step at a time and try not to panic. I know this is easier said than done but do not believe the worst when you have no evidence from a doctor to suggest this is the case.

Yes see your GP. They may not do a 'smear' or cervical screening test though - there are as the others have said lots of reasons for your symptoms which do not involve cervical cancer. Whatever is causing it, you are more likely to need to be referred to gynae or uroology.
You've said you (think) you have a rectocele - this can be a cause of vaginal bleeding.
The main thing as the others have said is to get yourself off to the doctor and take the first step.

My mum died of cervical /ovarian cancer - shed had it for many many years .....she had years of terrific back pain ,continual bleeding,bloated stomach,periods that didnt even lok like periods and lots and lots more.

I although not a doctor think that its just one of those weirdy things that happen - we women are pretty amazing you know.

However perhaps this is the time to get yourself back in order.....get that smear sort out your bowel problems,lose that bit of extra weight and generally lok after yourself in the same capacity as you lok after your dc.

FWIW I have had shocking things with my periods - late ones heavy ones none at all .....a miscarriage etc etc and I am v uptodate with my smears.

docs monday morning then?

Just wondering if you went to the doctor on Monday and how it was?