Diagnosing cervical cancer - anyone had a private scan?

[buffy20]

Im really sorry to jump in on this thread but try as I might I can't seem to start my own thread! It keeps telling me to login first, even though I am logged in.

I'm 41, on the pill and for the last month I've been having some spotting. I do not take a break with my pill, I take it continuously so I don't believe the bleeding is anything menstrual related.

For the last couple of weeks I have some very slight but noticeable pain in my pelvis and lower back. I have noticed that the more active I am, the more spotting I notice.

I have made an appointment for a smear on Friday, I'm actualy due for my regular smear anyway. The nurse I spoke to said she would speak with the GP and refer me for an ultrasound scan, but she advised that this could take at least 6-8 weeks to happen.

I am not someone who is ever ill or who overreacts about potential illness but I am becoming quite anxious that I may have cervical cancer. I am going to speak to the nurse on Friday about what the situation would be if I were to have a scan privately, and if it came back with any concerns would that elimiate that step of the NHS process. I do not want to undergo any treatment privately as I wouldn't trust it as much as I would trust NHS treatment.

What I'd like to know is:

• has anyone here gone private for cancer diagnosis and how did they find it
• does anyone have experience of my symptoms and subsequently received a cancer diagnosis and how long did the whole process take?

Thanks in advance! New to mumsnet so hope this opening message isn't overly long!!

Mine was diagnosed privately and treated by the nhs as that was the best route even if I had wanted to continue privately.

I'd say go for it and good luck. Hopefully it's nothing. Even if it is, then I'm living proof that everything should be fine.

I had the colposcopy, biopsy, CT scan and MRI scan privately. I don't remember having an ultra sound scan.

I think the nurse said the ultrasound was mainly to see if there was any other reason for the spotting/bleeding. I assume she started that process now rather than waiting for smear results to speed up the process perhaps

So in terms of your NHS treatment, how long until that started after you had all your prviate diagnoses done?

I had similar (thankfully not a cancer diagnosis). I paid to see a private gynaecologist and she sent me for a private scan with another consultant. All happened within 48hrs.

Even with a normal smear, abnormal bleeding should still be investigated- you need a proper examination of your cervix etc which the nurse performing the smear won't do.

Hope all is ok & you get seen quickly. Being investigated privately was the best thing for me and would do it again in a heartbeat.

I have no experience of whether you should go private or not, but just to let you know that a standard pelvic ultrasound is of little use when diagnosing cervical abnormalities. Maybe they want to see if the bleeding is caused by a polyp or fibroid etc - hence the ultrasound.

@Sipperskipper Do you mind if i ask what your diagnosis was? Ive spent too much time researching my symptoms and convinced myself that I have cervical cancer - hopefully its nothing!

@Jeremyironseverything Can i ask what prompted you to seek diagnosis in the first place?

@overwork Yes I should have included that in my OP - I think the nurse has made that referral just to speed things along rather than waiting for smear results.

Smear tests are a screening tool not diagnostic.

Have you actually had a GP appointment about your symptoms or just booked the smear that was due anyway?

Referral times are shorter if there are cancer concerns so I'm not sure I quite follow what you've done here.

If the bleeding is after sex it has a good possibility of being cervical erosion.

You can examine you own cervix. If you are that worried why not give it a try.

Also stop the pill to see if that stops it.

It was quite a few years ago so it's difficult to remember. It took about 6 weeks from my smear test result to actually having a hysterectomy. I know I waited for three weeks for my op on the nhs, once it had actually been diagnosed. I know that once I had the biopsy result back things moved fast, I had the CT scan, MRI scan and appointment with the oncologist within a week. So it must have been a couple ofweeks to arrange the colposcopy and biopsy - but of course at that point it wasn't desperately urgent because most cin111 results turn out to be fine.

Routine smear test showing cin111 results caused me to go private to speed things up.

Not exactly. I had a dodgy smear and was waiting for a follow up to confirm how bad it was. I went private as I was so worried. I got an appointment a day or so after my call. They did a colposcopy (I think that's the right word). He saw something and did a biopsy. He confirmed it was pre-cancerous cells soon after via telephone. They also spotted that my coil had some kind of microorganisms (really can't remember the word) and removed it. I would go private again as it was speedy and they were all so kind. I'm sure nhs staff are kind as well but I've been left waiting before with an ectopic pregnancy, and it was awful.

@Sarahandduck18

If the bleeding is after sex it has a good possibility of being cervical erosion.

You can examine you own cervix. If you are that worried why not give it a try.

Also stop the pill to see if that stops it.

How do you do that? Can you see cancerous cells?

@user1174147897 No GP appointment, I spoke with nurse on the phone and she advised that as I was due my smear this month anyway she would book me in for that. From that perspective it has just been booked in as a routine smear rather than because of concerns. The nurse said she would speak to the GP about referring me for the ultrasound to rule out anything else. I'll find out on Friday when I go for the smear what the GP said

@Jeremyironseverything Wow that all sounds very speedy and efficient. I imagine things may be different in these covid times, but hopefully not. Was your smear test a routine smear or did you have it done because of concerns? I'm wondering at what point I should look at going private - should I wait for my smear result (my sister just had one done, result came in 4 weeks) or should i just crack on??

Personally, I think you should be making a GP appointment (please don't say "I don't want to take up resources"). The NHS guidance says to speak to your GP, not a nurse, and not your GP secondhand via a nurse.

If a patient reports possible cancer symptoms, the correct response is not to continue routine screening and then wait a month or two.

www.nhs.uk/conditions/cervical-cancer/diagnosis/

If you've had an abnormal cervical screening test result, or any symptoms of cervical cancer, you will usually be referred for a colposcopy. This is an examination to look for abnormalities in your cervix. It's normally done by a nurse called a colposcopist.

If you have had abnormal bleeding, your GP may first recommend a chlamydia test before being referred for a colposcopy.

Note, in particular: any symptoms of cervical cancer, you will usually be referred for a colposcopy

Smear tests (cervical screening) are there to pick up people without symptoms. If a patient reports symptoms cervical screening is not the correct response. A colposcopy is for investigating symptoms, not a smear test (or an ultrasound).

The referral windows for suspected cancer are much shorter than 8 weeks, which is why this matters. Obviously, hopefully it won't be cancer, but at least get yourself seen by the right people on the right timescales.

You need to consult a doctor so they can assess you properly and take the correct course of action for you. Make a GP appointment before you decide whether to start paying for things privately.

That sounds like really good advice. Talk to a gp then see if you can have a private colposcopy like I did.
I didn’t have symptoms. My cancer was picked up by a routine smear test and as I was worried about the wait for an nhs colposcopy I went private.

@user1174147897
Thank you, that seems like really sound advice. I wish I'd asked to see the GP now rather than settling for speaking to the nurse. I think becuase i literally never need to see a GP, and i'm so used to only ever seeing the nurse to get my repeat pill prescription it just seemed like the normal thing to do.

@Jeremyironseverything
After your smear, was the next step the colposcopy? I'm such a baby, hate invasive things (i know, who doesnt) and didnt have my first smear until i was 32. I like the idea of a magic CT scan that just shows everything that is wrong with me

Yes, it was.
The indignity will be worth it. You get to see your cervix on a screen...

Agree with others, smear test is not the next step after reporting symptoms, it's colposcopy.

I had a colposcopy a week after seeing my GP, and they took biopsy at the same time as the colposcopy. After that my investigations and procedures were very quick, all through the NHS pathway. From GP to diagnosis was less than a month, and then another month until first treatment (this would have been quicker but I had to heal from first lletz) and then another month until surgery (because it was over Christmas and I was happy to wait until afterwards).

I would try to get on the correct NHS pathway before going private. Even phoning to speak to a GP would be a good first step.

2 other things -

The Jo's trust is a great website for info and advice.

Cervical cancer is very rare, the odds are very much in your favour, especially as you are having smears roughly in line with the guidance.

Smear results are really quick at the moment, less than 2 weeks in London anyway. The nurse will be able to see if you have ectropian cervix when she does the smear which could be quite possible. All is not lost, when you see her she can book you a gp appointment.

@Jeremyironseverything @user1174147897 @Appin

Thanks everyone, I really appreciate you taking the time to respond:)

Just to confirm, so I'm not brushed off by the receptionist at my GP, do you think that the following would count as legitimate symptoms:

• spotting over the last month, more noticeable in the last 10 days
• more significant spotting when im on my feet more/more active

- pain in my lower back. not unmanageable by any means but a definite niggling pain that's been there all the time for about a week

• some pelvic pain, again, not significant, but niggling

At the risk of giving too much information, i havent had intercourse for about 2 weeks because im worried that it might have some sort of negative impact. Maybe I'll do it tonight just to see, something else to report to my GP!??!

You need a GP appointment, not a smear.

A smear is a routine screening test for people who don't have symptoms.

You do have symptoms so it is not the right test for you.

@AnnaMagnani
That seems to be the consensus here, im going to phone my GP first thing

When did you last have a break from the pill? This can happen if you take it continuously, might be worth having a 4 day break. Last advice I heard was 4 days break every 3/4 months is the best way to do it. We had a patient who started spotting after taking it continuously for ages and this was the GP advice.