SMEARS....... Are you up to date?

[SomethingAboutMary]

Well i HATE smear tests & its taken me a long time to go & have my second one done as i am a big big wimp.... but i am very very proud of myself because i actually went to the doctors yesterday & managed to have it done

I know for some people smears are easy but it is one thing i hate.

So have you had your smearor are you due>??

GET ON THE PHONE & BOOK IT

alittlebitshy, do say when you go that you are nervous. There are various things they can try to make it easier. You are doing them a favour because they get more money if all their patients go! - but the reason they get more money is that it really does help to catch any problems early. so please go.

Right i went was a bit of blood from cervix too so had to have swabs taken as well although i arent sure where i am in my cycle.Wont know results until next thursday.

Anyone else had this

alittlebitshy - I was exactly the same as you, i was so so scared, I had a smear 3.6 years ago at my 6 week check after i had my ds & it came back abnormal cells, well that was my worst nightmare, i was suppost to have them looked at by the hospital but i never went because i was petrified (i am a wimp) then i fell pregnant with dd ermmm 2 years later as was told evey time i phoned the doctors "there is a note on the screen you need a smear urgent" so in the end after dd was born i decided i was going to go, i did it, i told the doctor i was scared & she was really lovely i toke dd with me in her carseat & i just focused on her while she was doing it, it was not painful just uncomfortable & it is very quick.

I really would go if i was you, i am now really really scared about the results because of my abnormal one 3+ years ago.

Just bumping this with \link{http://www.janemag.com/magazine/articles/2006/03/20/HPV\this story} my friend with cervical cancer sent to me.

OMG, that is quite something to read.

It is just so important, I have had abnormal cells removed twice now (two consecutive years) but have been fine for 6 years so things are looking good. Never really thought of it as that big a deal but would hate to think what would have happened if I had not bothered though.

Uncomfortable - yes
Embarassing - Yes
Worth staking your life on - ....

Yes thanks to Twig

Yes - I've sort of become 'used' to the fact that my friend has cervical cancer, she is fine and her first post-chemo checkup has been positive. But she has lost the chance to ever have her own kids and whilst I'm glad of course that she's still alive, I know that will be devastating for her once she can see beyond the immediate need to get well again.

She found out she had cancer just a few weeks after she got married :(