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Original poster

please don't yell at me

85 replies

warthog · 22/03/2007 12:02

but i haven't been for a smear test for a looong time and i don't want to go. i want to know what the risks of not going are. i know about cervical cancer but i don't know how high the risks are. please don't jump on me, i just really hate getting pushy post from the government and hate having to spread my legs for insensitive people i don't know. i hate hate hate the whole system.

OP posts:
corblimeymadam · 22/03/2007 12:07

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

lulumama · 22/03/2007 12:08

if you live near me, i;ll come with you and hold your hand...

a practice nurse should be able to do the smear for you in a caring and sensitive manner... and if you feel really anxious, you could call the surgery before hand and really make them aware of how you feel

mamama · 22/03/2007 12:09

I don't think you're alone with this but please do go... It only takes a couple of minutes and, if you wear a skirt, is slightly less

Lullabyloo · 22/03/2007 12:09

i know just how you feel....i've never had one

mamama · 22/03/2007 12:10

Actually, I have no idea why wearing a skirt makes it somehow better, but I feel a lot less 'exposed' hoisting up a skirt than I do taking of my trousers!

Hillary · 22/03/2007 12:10

I'v never had one - ever!

DumbledoresGirl · 22/03/2007 12:11

Think of your children. Do you want them to grow up without you because you hate spreading your legs for 15 minutes every few years?

I am not being pushy - you make your own decisions - but it was that thought that made me finally go for my first smear test (only when I had become a parent). I found that once I had been once the letters you get asking you to go for another test were quite a good prod to my conscience. They sit around for a few weeks, but I don't actually throw them out until I have made myself go for the next test.

lulumama · 22/03/2007 12:11

lully & hillary

go ! now !

yes, a skirt is good as you feel a bit more covered.....but they should have a blanket/ sheet to lay over you

raspberryberet · 22/03/2007 12:12

Not going to shout at you BUT ...

... it could save your life.

My aunt died of cervical cancer three years ago, and all because she was too scared to have a smear test and too embarrassed to flash her fanjo. She died for the sake of ten minutes discomfort and embarrassment. If she had been going regularly they would have spotted the cancer and she wouldn't have died. Because she didn't, it was too late to save her by the time they knew she had cancer.

Please, for your sake and the sake of those who love you, get it done. Forget about insensitive people, forget about embarrassment, forget about pushy posts ... just get it done.

Original poster
warthog · 22/03/2007 12:12

hillary, lullabyloo, do you get hounded with letters? what do you say when your doctor asks you when your last one was?

thanks for all the kind sentiments i appreciate you not giving me a hard time about how irresponsible i'm being.

OP posts:
Original poster
warthog · 22/03/2007 12:13

oh i take back the thanks about not giving me a hard time...

i know you're right, i know i know, but it makes me feel sick.

OP posts:
Lullabyloo · 22/03/2007 12:14

yes inundated with letters

never go to docs so they dont get to question me much.

Hillary · 22/03/2007 12:14

I don't get letters anymore.
Don't want one

DumbledoresGirl · 22/03/2007 12:14

can it really be worse than giving birth anyway?

I am that BB's friend had elective caesarians because she did not want to expose her fanjo! really? Do you get to keep your knickers on and your dignity in tact when having a caesarian then? I had no idea!

DumbledoresGirl · 22/03/2007 12:15

Warthog, I am not giving you a hard time - just trying to strengthen your resolve!

PinkTulips · 22/03/2007 12:15

when i was 16 my best friends mom died of cervical cancer. seeing her in pieces afterwards making all her friends swear they'd always get their smear tests done has always haunted me.

yes it's horrible but leaving your kids alone in the world is far worse

Charleesunnysunsun · 22/03/2007 12:16

They wouldn't give me one!

Our G.P won't do them unless your over 24! I went and booked my own as i hadn't had a letter after having my 2 kids.

When i got to the appointment the nurse said she couldn't legaly do one on a 20 yr old without the dr's say so and a specific reason!

anorak · 22/03/2007 12:17

So why did you post, warthog?

corblimeymadam · 22/03/2007 12:18

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Original poster
warthog · 22/03/2007 12:18

no, i know you're not. i'm just so super-sensitive about this whole thing just talking about it makes me feel like i've got a black hole in my tummy.

of course you're right - giving birth is a hell of a lot worse. i had a whole room full of people staring at my fanjo, but somehow that was different.

i can do this i can do this. i have to get a babysitter for dd, or do you think she can come along?

OP posts:
seb1 · 22/03/2007 12:18

I had one before Xmas, practice nurse asked if trainee student nurse could do it, I said yes (don't know who was more nervous), the practice nurse was telling the student my cervix looked hormonal, so I just laughed and said it goes with the rest of me then

melrose · 22/03/2007 12:19

I agree it is not the most pleasant things in the world, but never quite as bad as you think.

The risk is simple really, don't go and you risk developing cervical cancer. it can become quite advanced before symptoms show making the treatment difficult, traumatic and not always successful. Smear tests show up abnormal cells before they become cancerous and treatment can be very simple and non-invasive. I do not have any figures on the actual occurence of abmormal cells, though I will try and fgind some. But I do know that 2 of my friends (under 30) have had abnormal cells found and treated, as have my Aunt and mother, so not that uncommen

I work for a cancer charity and come across many cancer survivors and patients. Last summer i met 2 young children who had no Mummy thanks to Cervical cancer. Not a risk worth taking.

As for pushy reminders from the health service, I think you could argue it is worth it for the hundreds of lived (and huge amount of treatment) taht the cervical screening programme has saved

make that appointment, have the smear and forget it for another few years

Original poster
warthog · 22/03/2007 12:19

anorak - i was actually after statistics on why i shouldn't take the risk not having one.

and perhaps a little support / push to get me to go.

OP posts:
DumbledoresGirl · 22/03/2007 12:20

Oooh I am duly chastised BB!

But what I meant was, didn't she have to expose herself anyway to have the caesarians? I thought the cut was so low down you have to be shaved... What I am really saying is I don't know what happens to a woman when she has one.

I can guess your friend's cause of pyschological damage and I hope she got help for it

PinkTulips · 22/03/2007 12:21

how odd.

they practically bullied me into having one while preg with ds at 21 and i'd been told to have one before that after dd was born but i got preg again before i made the appointment