Is there such a thing as a virulent form of cervical cancer?

[DumbledoresGirl]

In other words, a form of cervical cancer that could develop and cause symptoms inbetween 3 yearly smear tests?

Or how likely is it that a smear test could provide a false all clear?

Worrying and too scared to google.

Oh and have you thought about iron tonic, this has helped to make bleeding a bit more even in the past (my acupuncturist recommended floradix as I was a bit anaemic)

Well, one thing is for sure, I am definitely going to mention the funny bleeding when I go for the smear, and if I have any more bleeding between now and then (period aside!) I will definitely ring up and demand to be seen sooner. But I have been before with a handful of symptoms and was told it was just part of being a woman, which did not really fit with the health authority advice to get unusual things checked out.

I think health anxiety issues is going a bit far. I have probably exagerated the way I feel, although I did get into a complete state last night and was crying and crying about it. Thanks for all your responses. It is good to talk it through a bit and get some perspective.

Izyboy, I have taken Spatone and various herbal remedies but nothing seems to make much difference if I am honest.

well, i hpoe you get sorted and i am pretty sure it is nothing sinister, in my non medical opinion x

Thanks

DG I think you should see your gp to set your mind at rest but in the meantime wnated to say that I was tested a couple of years ago to see if I was premenopausal and apparently wasn't { I am 49 } but my periods are all over the place too and have been for a few years now.
They are heavier, cycle ranges from 3 and a half weeks to 5 plus weeks, stop and then start again a day or so later. So your symptoms could well just be due to hormonal changes - much more likely than anything sinister but go and get checked anyway so that you can stop worrying about it.

Please get checked and mention everything. My sister, aged 27 was diagnosed with small cell cancer of the cervix (basically the same type as lung cancer) she died eight months after diagnosis. She'd had a smear test 18 months earlier which showed nothing.

I don't want to worry you, but basically, as soon as it was diagnosed we knew she had no real chance of survival.

Message withdrawn

Well done on booking the smear

I don't think a slight bleed just before your period and another one the day after it finishes is anything to worry about.
I would often get spotting 2 - 3 days before my period. Then I would have a normal period, and a day after it stopped I would spot again.
I had a smear to check this out (like you I was worried) and it came back normal. Also, the doc and the nurse both seperately said this is very normal and it just means my hormones are changing. They say that is normal too, as bodies change all the time.

The other thing I wanted to say was, I too used to worry that every lump, bump, scrape, scratch, pain was cancer.
I used to worry and cry myself to sleep everytime something unusual happened on my body.
I eventually spoke to a GP about this (had to broach the subject 3 times before a lovely GP took me seriously)
She gave me a low dose of AD's and referred me for counselling. There they diagnosed a 'health anxiety'. I had 12 counselling sessions adn was on AD's for 18 months. I have now been off the AD's for 2 years and am so much better. I can now put my worries into perspective.

I am not saying you have this, and please ignore me if you feel I am speaking out of turn.
But for me the constant 'fearing the worst' was draining and I felt heavy hearted all of the time, crying with worry.

I hope you get the clean bill of health soon, and in my non-medical opinion I think you are fine

So sorry to hear about your sister, Slug.

DG - like hippo, I used to spot a day or two before and after and I hadn't always done it, it just changed at some point.

I also had health anxiety that became quite debilitating at times. I went to the gp about my IBS as I was convinced there was something wrong with my bowel. The gp was convinced it was pathological rather than physiological but did all the tests and I was fine. I was offered prozac but decided to wait for CBT which luckily had a space in a few weeks. I did that for quite a while and this really helped along with other things to try and relax. I saw a herbalist who was very good, I think there was some St Johns Worts in the mix but not a lot.

Get your tests done as soon as you can and then hopefully everything will be fine and you can address your anxiety. It's like a transformation when you get to grips with it.

DG - I posted here couple of months ago with similar symptoms (period v erratic and starting again after finishing). Was in a bit of a state - and exactly like hippi I worry constantly about worst that can happen re my health. Saw GP who said it was hormonal - and v possibly made worse by anxiety. Had last smear a year ago and he refused to do another one as he was convinced there was no indication it was needed
Hope you get some reassurance following your smear

I echo what Winetimeisfinetime says. I'm 46 and she could be describing my periods.
Several years ago I also had bleeding after sex which was eventually diagnosed as cervical errosion. Can't remember what the treatment was called but it solved the problem. So as many have said there are many possible causes for your symptoms so getting a smear done is the right thing.
And a big thank you for this thread as you have reminded me that my smear is due soon and I too have now made an appointment.
Hope everything is fine for you.

I have just had a Smear (was clear), and have had similar symptoms DDG. Periods erratic, think it's finished then along comes some more - Think it's starting, but just a pre warning then wait a day or 2 for the rest. Clots & flooding one month, very little the next.

Methinks I am just getting old!

Hi, DumbledoresGirl,

From the symptoms you describe, cervical cancer would be the absolute bottom of my list of possibilities. Hormonal changes are hugely more likely, so I wouldn't worry too much. Still, if you say you are having symptoms that concern you, they may indicate this on your smear test and then you might get the result back sooner (you never know your luck!).

Do you have a medical background asteamedpoater? I don't mean that rudely, just trying to work out how much assurance to feel?!

It encourages me that others here have similar symptoms to me. I am already of the opinion that my hormones are all over the place as I suffer monthly from what can only be hormone induced fatigue, so it would make sense that hormones might be causing the odd bleeding.

Hi, DumbledoresGirl,

I come from a medical family and have lots of experience of abnormal smears and panicked questions to said family! I've also had problems with my periods (or the lack of them) in the past and had blood tests to check my hormone levels, so have had lots of expert advice on matters down below!

Thanks. I also come from a medical family but I don't want to bother them about this.

Thanks for taking the time to answer me. Most of the time I know I am worrying about nothing but there is always that grain of doubt in ones mind.

DG I was in your exact same postition except I had delayed having my smear done for over a year, I was really kicking myself and was imagining all sorts of things, I had my smear and was almost shocked when it came back clear, symptoms cleared up. I did have cin2 cells 5 years ago so I was being really stupid and irresponsible putting off my smear, funny thing was they dont bother me, it just got delayed like a haircut or opticians appointment.