Nurse refused to do a smear test

[weevilswobble]

Have been suffering alot of anxiety and part of that is a fear of cervical cancer. I got the HPV virus on my first ever sexual encounter aged 17, and was told i'd need an annual smear. I have had abnormal smears and treatment for abnormal cells in the past but i'm currently on a 3 yr recall. My doctor said to book in for a smear for reassurance, but today at the appointment the nurse refused to do it. Can i go somewhere else? I take full responsibility for my health and dont actually enjoy having smear tests, but its sensible i think. Feeling a bit confused.

iamseeingIm so sorry to hear that.Wishing you a miracle.

sofa dont you think you need to get off your high horse?you say you have faced cancer and i have no idea how severe your illness was/is but you show no understanding and compassion for anyone who is so terrified of recurrance that they would literally do anything to avoid it.
Incidentally i told a little white lie to jump the queue to see the breast specialist and he later congratulated me on my forward thinking as it had saved my life and the nhs thousands on my eventual palative care,and the tax payer further thousands on looking after my 3 children when they were orphans.

Thanks Ledkr

I am fully supportive of anyone pushing for appropriate investigations if they think there's something wrong with them.
In the particular example of cervical screening we are in the middle of a process of educating primary care (GP & nurses) and the public about what a cervical screening test is - and it isn't a diagnostic test. Using it in the wrong setting can stop further investigations because a negative result comes back which may be nothing to do with the actual problem.

If someone has symptoms such as bleeding and they are up to date with their smears then they need diagnostic tests not screening tests.

iamseeingstars I am very sorry to hear that. Hopefully you can see that I do agree with you in general just not specifically about having a smear test for reassurance?

This is my thread so everyone be nice. Else i'll cry.

belat just to say that sometimes a "feeling" can be a symptom too.In mt case i just didnt feel right for ages and had breast pain when i lay down,that alone was not cause for an emergency appointment so i perued it privately and had aggressive cancer.

The issue of a smear for reassurance is a tough one but only if it is unreliable,personally id rather see nhs money going to reassure someone who would otherwise worry for years than i would some of the other things it wastes money on.

Hi weevilswobble I've read through most of your thread and hope I haven't missed anything that's already been said.

I feel for you and am shocked that you couldn't have your smear when you wanted it. Back in 2001 I had LLETZ treatment for pre-cancerous cells on my cervix. This was diagnosed by an abnormal smear result. After my treatment I was also advised to have yearly smear tests and did so. I fully understand your concerns, especially as in my case, a couple of follow up smears had to be repeated, not due to further abnormalities, but because they couldn't be read properly. The whole process of going for a smear and waiting for results when you have had changes is very stressful.

I would have a chat with your doctor and explain what has happened. It seems to me that the left hand doesn't know what the right is doing here, but your health is important and this situation needs sorting out. Three years imo is definitely too long to wait for another one.