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Do I really need a smear?

137 replies

humblesims · 02/08/2017 08:09

Its that time again. The letter has come to make an appointment. I have always been responsible and had the smear test even though I hate it like everyone does.
But I'm fifty two. I dont want to go anymore. I'm menopausal. I have piles. My fanjo is not as neat as it was (I know that counts for nothing).
When does the risk of cervical cancer reduce? Will I still have to have smears when I'm in my dotage?

I know I'll go but...I'm tempted not to.

OP posts:
HorridHenryrule · 25/08/2017 03:25

www.nccc-online.org/hpv-vaccines/

Piewraith · 25/08/2017 05:28

The point of screening is you can decide what to do if anything is found. It's not an automatic conveyer belt of treatment. I have private treatment and know that at any time i can stop and think about what I'd want next.

The problem is that it does become an automatic conveyed belt of treatment. If an abnormality is found, you will be strongly pressured to go ahead with treatment, and you will say yes, and who would blame you. It is hard for a patient to "wait and see" and impossible for a doctor to recommend, because of fear you might sue them.

Breast cancer and prostate cancer screenings often lead to people being maimed (breasts removed, prostate removed = impotence, incontinence), suffering pain from surgery and chemotherapy and some have died from complications during surgery - possibly they had an abnormality that would never have harmed them. Yes you might be one of the ones who's cancer is found early, but statistically you are more likely to be the one that has chemotherapy for no reason.

And for the pp that commented that a mammogram has less radiation than sitting in front of the tv! Not true, radiation used in mammography is x ray, which is ionising radiation.

It's these types of misunderstandings that screening advocates do nothing to correct and even encourage because "it gets women in the door". Well I don't think people need to be tricked. I am not against screening, but I think it should be each person's own decision based on their own personal risk profile.

Kat786 · 25/08/2017 15:48

That's the problem I have with these programmes. The phrase it gets women in the door says it all. Are similar efforts made to get men through the door for AAA screening or flexi SIG? Are they chased to return their poo kits? PHE England says if a man chooses not to have AAA screening they are ceased from the programme but are told they can take the test later of they choose. Its only recently women have been told they can opt out of screening and how to do it! It surprises me they don't have 2 different formats of flexi Sig "invitations" . the men's would present balanced info. Women would be told they MUST have the test! Do they want to die and leave their grandchildren?? ((I remember the smear campaign of the crying child "my mum missed her smear now I miss my mum"! They could re cycle it for flexi SIG!

PollyPerky · 25/08/2017 18:09

How recently do you mean Kat?
I opted out of NHS screening about 3-4 years ago after getting tired of all the letters. I've had private smears for over 20 years because the NHS only offers them every 5 years to women my age. Having had friends with severe changes caught before the 5 year test, I go for smears every 2-3 years. All I had to do was phone the number in the letter.

Not sure about men and the sigmo test. It's not yet rolled out nationwide. We got an invite for bowel screening via a poo sample. This is for all the over 60s. Some people I know over 55 have been invited for the sigmo test. I am not aware of any pressure on women to have it done (and not men.)

Kat786 · 25/08/2017 18:33

PollyPerky I opted out in 2015 and had to Google to find out how to do it. Even after that I have been harassed to have a smear. I believe it was last year the "invitation " letters started saying it was your choice to attend or not and around the same time PHE issued their "who'd opt out of screening " post with info and links on how to do this. However not all women have the Internet or can find this stuff out for themselves or they are told they'll be kicked off the list if they don't have a smear.

PollyPerky · 25/08/2017 19:45

I think it was before 2015. There is a phone number and is quite easy to do it. You def don't need the internet. It was a number and I phoned them.

Likewise the bowel screening letters- they come with a tel no you ring to opt out.

crazyhorses3 · 25/08/2017 19:54

I stopped having them about five years ago as I just couldn't face it anymore. I have this nagging feeling all the time I OUGHT to go, but i just can't face it. I agree with the above post about breast screening also.

Kat786 · 25/08/2017 20:23

PollyPerky my last "invitation" didn't inform me how to opt out. It didn't even say I could. It told me how to book my appointment. I received a leaflet with green and brown flowers to "help me decide". It told me I might find the test an unpleasant experience. Nothing about opting out. And why should I opt out? I wasn't asked if I wanted smears. I was just rounded up at regular intervals.

Kat786 · 25/08/2017 20:31

As to flexi sig it's offered in my area but at 53 I'm too young. However I'll be opting out of that too and the poo test

PencilsInSpace · 25/08/2017 20:46

I jumped through all the hoops to opt out of the national screening programme and signed the letter for the GP surgery to ensure I was recorded as opted out with them too. Yesterday I got a letter from the surgery to say that my records showed I had not had a smear for a while and to call to make an appointment. There was no mention on the letter of the right to opt out, just 'please call and make an appointment'.

People who go private for healthcare don't really have a useful opinion on how the rest of us are treated.

Kat786 · 25/08/2017 20:53

Pencilsinspace. I'm useless at posting links and web addresses but I think I'm correct in saying even though you sign a disclaimer and say you don't want any more smears your surgery is obliged to write every 5 years to remind you of your choice and try to tempt you back into having smears. Should I get such a letter I will reply I have a brain as well as a cervix and should I wish to smear in the future I will ask. And should I wish to be added to the list of eligible women in the future I will ask. In other words don't call me I'll ca you

PollyPerky · 25/08/2017 21:44

People who go private for healthcare don't really have a useful opinion on how the rest of us are treated.

Really? Opting of private smears is not exactly removing oneself from the NHS Confused

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