Furious with NHS - they should have told me I was at higher risk of cervical cancer

[CountessDracula]

I am very annoyed.

I went for a smear test a few weeks ago and I have just had a letter saying that it failed and I need to go and have it repeated. They included a leaflet, and when I read it is said that you are at higher risk of cervical cancer if

first had sex at an early age

became pregnant as a teenager

smoke

use contraceptives that do not act as barriers

have had a large number of sexual partners or have a sexual partner who has had many other partners

you are infected with the AIDS virus (HIV)

take immunosuppresant drugs (eg after a kidney transplant)

have been infected with a sexually transmitted disease at any time

Now call me Mrs Picky, but as I have been on immunosuppressants for TEN YEARS or more, I would have thought that someone could have mentioned this to me. It is about 6 years since my last smear as I was pg when my last one was due - do you not think they should have chased me up sooner as I am at higher risk?

Am thinking of making a complaint - I have seen numerous gps, specialists etc and not one of them have mentioned this, it is not on any of the documentation with the drugs etc.

Am I being neurotic or should I complain?

Don't know if I'd complain, perhaps write an informal letter saying you're a tad pissed off with this. After all, many of us have had a large number of sexual partners, don't use barrier contraceptives etc. Know you case is different due to having to take the drugs but, hmm, don't know. Not a useful post really. Think I would write an informal letter and request an acknowledgement.

yes, but all the rest are things you know about aren't they?!

I don't know how long they have been advising this, think it is a recent development as have never seen it before on these leaflets.

I agree - told you it was useless post. Doubt you get called more regularly for the other condition though. However, I would wonder why it has been 6 years in the first place, thought tehy were meant to be every 3 regardless.

Were you not chased up within that 6 years? Women in my area get lettered to go every 3 years.

I would actaully phone up and ask when they started giving this advice.

Have been in this situation and was on cyclosporin and azathioprine Have had 2 successful cone biopsies but have smears twice a year now.Also a small vulval lump dismissed as a cyst was wrongly diagnosed and was discovered 11 yrs later to be malignant Thankfully it is a v slow growing cancer and it was excised fully(i hope)but the trauma of the surgery and the worry was a nightmare.I was never warned of the risk either There are also risks of other conditions too you should really complain it is shocking you weren't told

have just re read these.It has actually been known for years about the link.My gynaecologist is australian and had several patients in oz with cin3 on immunosuppression.