Abnormal smear results. Panicking

[tubismybub]

I had a smear before xmas and i recieved a letter today to show that the results were abnormal and i need further tests. I'm so worried about it and just keep thinking about the worse case scenario.

Aww tub. Try not to worry. So many smears are 'abnormal' that it really isn't anything to worry about at this stage. I had one of these a few years ago, and remember feeling really panicked, but then it turned out the abnormality was down to the fact that I had thrush when they did the original smear. This is very common aparently, as is them not taking enough cells for a reading (which would also show up as abnormal).

i had an 'abnormal' one once- it just meant that there weren't enough cells for them to test properly. The second test was all clear

Don't panic.

firstly its unlikely to be anything more than early warning of cell changes, pre-pre cancer type thing

secondly if it is something more serious - ie cancer - then its a slow growing cancer which is very treatable. Take my word on it, I had it, got treated, which wasn't pleasant but was fast and effective, and am all clear now.

Go get the colposcopy thingy and put your mind at rest.

Me too. Just got the letter today and was told I have to have a mole off my face today too so I am a bit low. I have just been told I need a repeat smear in 6 months though not a colposcopy so I might check to see if I can go sooner. They thought I had thrush when they took the smear and took a swab at the same time but that came back clear so I don't know now.....

Thank you everyone for all your reasuurance, you've made me calm down a bit now. I had forgotten all about the results and guess i just didn't expect anything to come back.

Skyler, hope everything works out for you when you get your mole removed. It must be horrible to have both these things to deal with at the same time.

Actually I have reread my letter and it states borderline changes so I guess the swab result was ok after all.

I second, third, etc, everyone else. I had abnormal smears on and off for several years..the furthest it went was a colposcopy and biopsy (which showed CIN 1 pre cancerous cells but this is nothing to get worked up about. The most serious I think is CIN 3 or CIN 4 and that´s still PRE cancerous cells.). They treated those cells by burning them off (which I couldn´t feel at all) and that was it. done and dusted.

They tend to make you have smears every 6 months or so until you get a couple of good ones in a row but you have to just look at it as a good thing, you are in the system and you are being monitored, they are keeping an eye on you and if there WAS anything, they´d be catching it at a really really early stage. My 2 best girlfriends also went through similar experiences so it isn´t as uncommon as you´d think either.

I had to have two colposcopies and then annual smear tests. Nothing sinister was found and now I'm back to the usual 3 yearly (I think it's 3 years). Don't worry too much at this stage. Lots of people have colposcopies and, although an unpleasant procedure if they take a biopsy, it's nothing that dramatic.

Thank you ladies. I know it is good that we will be so closely monitored really. Just a bit fed up today I suppose. The hosp have rung me already about an appt for my mole which is great but I can't get any childcare for when they are offering so will have my 18 month old and nearly 4 yo with me. Sigh. Any way I know I am lucky really.