Be brutally honest, it's cancer isn't it?

[hopefulmummytobe78]

I had my first smear test today, I'm 24.

I bled during it and the nurse saw a yellow spot on my cervix. She said it's a normal cyst, called a nabothian cyst, but she also referred me for a colposcopy.

She said it was just to be safe, but why would an overstretched NHS do that? She's definitely seen something awful, hasn't she? She said I would be seen very quickly too.

Why would she do that if it wasn't sinister? It's cancer, isn't it?

No, she can't tell yet, which is why there's further tests. Speed might be because you are young.

She is being thorough in referring you for the colposcopy- that is a good thing. I strongly suspect it is not in her job description to lie to patients and she has told you specifically what it looks like (nabothian cyst) so that is the most likely answer.

Can you distract yourself? I take it you are prone to health anxiety? (I am too- no judgement from me).

I got home about half an hour ago and I can't stop crying. Just looked on my NHS app and it says

"?nabothian follicle present with some bleeding on taking sample therefore referred"

It doesn't make sense, google says it's fine to have one so why would she waste resources?

Have you had the HPV vaccine?

The nurse is being thorough and double checking her findings. She is following protocol. Please don’t worry and wait for your colposcopy.

I bled during my smear when I was in my 20’s. I was referred for a collie because of it and it was all fine. At your age it’s highly unlikely to be cancer. The vast, vast, vast majority get the all clear at the colposcopy clinic.

She is just being extra cautious that's all by referring you to a consultant. They may remove the cyst.

Completely different but I went to the Dr. about a spot on my arm. He referred me to the dermatologist who was able to confirm that it was harmless but if it was annoying me he would remove it.

She says it's a cyst. Why don't you believe her?

She's not wasting resources, she is following guidelines. There is no point worrying over something you have zero control over especially considering the right people are doing the right things.

Plenty of women get referred for closer checks, most are sent away as nothing extra needs doing.

Honestly, she is thoroughly following protocol - it's horrible waiting for tests and results, but they have a whole level of bland language to cover unusual growths, if it looks cysty it's reliably looking cysty - but they're rightly verifying rather than relying on one set of eyes.

When I was referred it said the referral was for suspected gynaecological cancer. I'd take her at her word.

She really is just following protocol

I have PCOS which means I am prone to cysts in random places (not just ovaries despite what the name implies) and despite the fact its always highly likely to be a cyst I'm suffering from I always get referred when a random one pops up, just to check and be sure

Sorry you're feeling so anxious, and it's easy enough for us to say, as we aren't going through it.

But the NHS is fab. I'm going through some health issues just now and they are thorough, professional and do take a cautious approach. You sound surprised at that. Have more faith.

I'm absolutely certain you'll be fine x

She said it’s a cyst but she needs it to be checked to be sure. The dr I saw last week found a cyst in my breast but I’m being referred to make sure. It doesn’t mean it’s cancer at all so stop working yourself up so much

She will be following protocol based on the cyst and/or cervical bleeding (not uncommon). If she had seen anything else it would be recorded and she would have fed back to you. It would be very unethical to hide a concern found in examination from a patient.

I had a lump in my back the size of a plum (only noticed as lost weight) the scanned it, operated to remove it under general, biopsies on it after op came back as nothing but a fatty lump. Dp had an enflamed mole on his arm. They didn't bother testing, just took it off and tested afterwards, again perfectly benign and harmless. We have several other similar stories.

It's their job to be cautious and give you the best care. Referring you in these circumstances should be the norm and you really shouldn't read into it just because the nhs is struggling.

I’ve bled during a smear before my results were perfectly normal. Recently have been to the GP for post menopausal bleeding doctor saw a growth on my cervix which she thought was a polyp referred on the two week pathway had it removed and tested and all fine. They have to refer you they wouldn’t be doing their job otherwise they are just following guidelines.

Calm down! I've previously been referred on for a cyst and that's all it was. No biggie.

A colposcopy may well come back clear. I had colposcopies twice. I had precancerous cells the first time; the second time the result was clear. They just burnt the cells off. Please note they were PREcancerous.
I never developed any form of cancer and this was nearly thirty years ago.
Please try not to worry. The only reason they do smear tests is in case they pick anything up, so it makes sense to refer you on just in case. But it is quite likely just to be a precaution.

Honestly OP, it's understandable at your age that you'd think that a NHS cancer referral means it's probably cancer.

But I promise you, as a veteran of umpteen "It's probably fine, but let's just double check for safety" referrals for skin, breast, bladder, eyes, and probably some others I forget, that if a nurse says "it looks benign but let's refer you just in case" then that is exactly what she means.

You'll probably have another several "it looks benign but let's just do a test or two to rule out anything nasty" referrals in your life. It's the way life is. And eventually, probably many years from now, one of them will be cancer and you'll have treatment which will probably be successful. But today is almost certainly not that day.

They are not wasting resources and I imagine it is the typical pathway for anything like that to be referred and seen quickly hopefully just in case. Either way if it is nothing then you can be reassured of this or if it is something then you are in the best place to get this addressed. No one online can tell you if it is something sinister or not so wait, attend any appointments, and be guided by the medical professionals who see you - they know what they are doing.

I don't believe her because I was told six months ago that I would be referred for another health issue, yet I never got the referral.

This one is done within minutes. That only means one thing, cancer.

To be absolutely certain it's just a Nabothian Cyst. Otherwise you'd be worrying about whether they'd missed something.

Hey OP couldn't read and run. I've always had issues with smears (retroverted womb that I only discovered in labour) and have to do a headstand for around 30mins to enable anyone to get even a glimpse of my cervix. It's not uncommon for me to bleed either and I've had 3 where I've had abnormal results because they've scraped a bit too hard and there's been blood. Each time I've had negative results on the second test. I also, as of last year, now get to go to the specialist dept up at the hospital which was a game-changer in time spent, embarrassment averted (no one wants to witness a mid 40's woman trying to do a backwards rocking pelvic thrust and bicycling legs for that length of time) and general frustration and pain.

Speaking to your GP would be more helpful than asking random strangers online who have zero access to your medical files. Speak to your GO tomorrow.

This one is done within minutes. That only means one thing, cancer.

It really doesn't. It may seem like an extravagance in an overstretched NHS, but this is standard protocol where cancer is possible. It's called the Two Week Wait and has been around for many years.