cervical cancer screaning

[addictedtomn]

does any one know how old you have to be in order to be able to have one? 2 of my cousins have recently found out they have cervical cancer and my uncle and pa died of bowel cancer and my nans neice also died of cervical cancer.

so i went to the doctor to ask if i could be screaned and was told i would have to wait 3 years (i'm only 22) is this right? i thought they lowered the screaning age?

it doesnt help that my mum had a dream a couple of weeks back about me having cancer and chemo and loosing all my hair. i tried to tell her there is nothing wrong with me and its just stress and worry on her part, but shes seriously stressing and i dont really want her to stress for the next 3 years!

I would go back to your gp bearing in mind your family history and your anxiety I think it is wrong for them to not offer you a smear test.

The alternative would be to go private, look at well women insurance or try your local private hospital.

Having said all of that it is extremely unlikely that someone of your age would have developed cervical cancer.

it is aged 20 in Scotland but 25 in England - dont ask me why!

Smear test age limit to remain 25

i'm not worried in any way, i dont believe i have it, surley i would have had symptoms? but then maybe that is too much of a throwaway attitude iykwim, its my mum that has got her self all worked up convinced that i'm going to be the next one to die

i have a gyne appointment next week anyway and was going to ask her about it, i just wondered if they did them for younger people of not at all unill your 25.

now knowing that in scotland its 20 i think i'll insist!

they raised it sometime around 2004/05 i think.
I can understand you are worried but it doesn't sound as though there is a strong family history of cervical cancer, so you're unlikely to be at higher risk than normal. If you have any symptoms or worries your GP should refer you for further tests to rule it out.

oh sorry, misread it's your mum thats worried.
I think (willing to be corrected if wrong) is that the biggest risk factor for most cancers is age

The familial link is not felt to be strong enough for earlier screening for those with cervical cancer. For any familial linked cancer, an increased risk is usually associated with first degree relatives, e.g. mother, sister.