Smear test is due on Monday,and I am freaking out!

[tetti]

I dk who to talk to this about (most people I know would just make me worry even more after talking to them!),but I just need to let off some steam,or I'll go mad with worry.

Ok,I had 2 abnormal smear's (mild dyskaryosis),and in Sept last year I went for a colposcopy.I'd worried about all sorts (having lost my mum to cancer,I was certain that it was going to be bad news)
When the Dr said my cervix looke dperfectly healthy,I could not believe it,and I was so relieved.
Had prioir to this visit been so scared,especially after rading about Jade Goody (my consultant then went onto say that he knew her consultant personally,and that she actually did not attend any of the follow up appointments,nor the appointment to remove what then were cancerous cells),and that is what led to her condition becoming terminal.

But,again I am finding myself freaking out.Am so worried that I'll have another abnormal result,and that this time,it may be worse.I dk if my fears are irrational,but being a single parent,I just find it so worrying.I need to stay healthy for my child.

I just wonder if anyone else has had similar results,and how you cope with trying to "switch" off all this worrying (between the actual smear tests and getting the result I can barely get a wink of sleep!)
Am trying not to worry,but it simply doesn't work {confused}

Hi, like you i have also had abnormal smears- this was pre-Jade Goody when I was naive enough to think I would be too young to get cancer (actually Jade Goody was same age as me). I had a colposcopy and the abnormal cells removed and then smears every 3 months to check nothing had changed.

You are doing absolutely the right thing by having regular smears, this must surely negate some of the worry as at least then you know you are taking positive action, IYSWIM? I would also tell the nurse who takes your smear (should be aware from your notes anyway) that you have a history and for that reason you do need the results as soon as possible. Ask her when you can expect them and if you haven't received them by then, I would phone the surgery.

Fingers crossed for you,

About 7% of cervical screening tests are low grade abnormalities each year.
The majority of these will resolve without any treatment, and many women attending colposcopy will have a normal cervix. The national guidance is for a colposcopy assessment after 2xmild dyskaryosis to check everything out.

You are doing the right thing by going back for your follow up tests.
The sample taker is supposed to tell the patient when they should expect to receive their results (it's part of the national protocol). Depending on where you are, many areas have already achieved the 14 day turnaround time, we're managing 7 days for most of our tests, so you shouldn't need to ask to get them back more quickly.

Further information about abnormal results is on the colposcopists website

Thank you both:) And thank you so much for that link Bela,the stats it showed put my worries into perspective.xx

Thanks - although I don't see patients, I do think about them when I'm reading the samples and hope to help explain about screening is an extension of that.
Hope your appointment goes well.

I had abnormal cells and when I had colcoscopy they said it looked like cin1, they leave it 6 months to see if it heals, cos the treatment causes more damage than the cells, they did a biopsy too and came back level 2, so i was booked in a month later for loop diathermy. If your abnormalities were anything to worry about they would have treated u before after your previous smears, sure u have nothing to worry about and are just keeping an eye on u. like the others have said keep going to your appointments. Its nothing to worry about! Theyve seen plenty more ladies bits and they are really nice to ya