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?

They have to refer you to protect their own back too. If it looks like a cyst then 99% it will be but they're referring to protect the 1% of times where it's something different

I had bloods done and got a call that same day which said "where are you? Ok I need you to get to haematology right now" I got there and (pre covid) everyone was gowned and masked
Not cancer

I've also had a gynae referral this year. Not cancer

Sounds like you need to acknowledge your severe health anxiety. Posting on here is pointless otherwise, because you won’t get any reassurance.

I’m sorry but this is so irrational. I bet your nurse didn’t even mention the C word. You need to calm down, take a breather and just wait.

I've had a coloscopy and it was nothing.
As have millions of other people.

Being brutally honest, you need to see a doctor about your mental health OP. There's no reason to be this on edge with the evidence provided and to dismiss so many posters with very sound advice.

No, it's not.
If you want to be technical there are various grades of non or pre-cancerous lesions, called Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasias. They are not uncommon, and they rarely develop into anything more sinister. The nurse was absolutely right to recommend further investigation, which is not a waste of resources but a very sensible preventative / diagnostic step.

Please, please, please try not to worry.

Easier said than done I know

I've had a few colposcomy pre cancerous. All fine. I found the colposcomy much more comfortable than normal smear. Try and take someone with you to the colposcomy.

Which as it says, is CIN not not cancer.

Ah bless you it was like this when all my friends and I got to the smear test age. The odd person who got picked up for extra checks and we were all panicking!!

I'm nearing 40 now, I've had lots of friends (and me, my sister and my mum) all be referred like you !! Not one has had cancer.

I think you've misunderstood that stat. 6/10 have abnormal cells. NOT ALL OF THOSE ARE CANCER. I had abnormal cells, it came from something else called ectropian (maybe spelt wrong)

Obviously you might have cancer but chances are way way lower than 60--%

I was also referred for colposcopy at a similar age, I had abnormal cells. I worried, of course I did, but your anxiety is overwrought, especially as you've not had any results that suggest cancer at all.

If your replies are genuine (and I'm spurious), then it will make no difference if people reassure. You won't be comforted or change your mind. If anything it just gives you more excuses to google statistics which you'll interpret with your own bias, and read negative anecdotal evidence to try and back up your illogical feelings.

You need to accept that you are wildly anxious, and speak to someone about it. The smear is a red herring.

Abnormal cells are not cancer. And most of the women I know have had them, but did not develop cancer

In my health region, the wait lists for gynae are over two years long, consequently all gynae referrals are now done through the two week wait pathway. It seems counterintuitive but at least there's no wait. I was seen with ten days recently.

They always check (at least they should) just to be sure. They removed a lump that we knew was adipose tissue (fat) and they still sent it off.
It's likely a cyst, like they said. But better to be sure.

With respect, please pull yourself together. She’s given you her idea of what it is, they’re very distinctive. If she thought it was cancer she’d have just done the standard ‘counselling’ (telling you about what to expect, you’ll receive a letter etc) and she certainly wouldn’t have told you something that very much IS NOT CANCER.

Any abnormalities are referred on the same pathway. I’ve been referred several times and not once has it been for cancer. Polyp, ectropian, scarring, CIN3.

Put it out of your mind. And regarding your other referral, you should have chased that.

Op, I'm a nurse. Honestly, it really doesn't only mean one thing. Hand on heart.

I’ve had a colposcopy and a further procedure to remove abnormal cells. The smear test results determine if you have abnormal cells or not, not a visual check. You have not been told you may have cancer, you have been referred as a cyst is suspected, you would not be lied to.

You don't know what it is and she is being cautious. It's good she is referring you. Stop panicking and understand that it may not have been noticed if you hadn't gone for a check.

You almost certainly don't have cancer. You almost certainly do have abnormal levels of anxiety, for which I would suggest you seek help.

I know how nerve wracking it must be but try and stay calm if you can. I found a lump in my breast before Christmas and went to the doctors, the gp said she is 99.9% sure it’s swollen breast tissue but she is going to refer me. I got a letter through the post saying I’ve been fast tracked through the nhs cancer two week service and I was petrified! But the scan showed exactly what the gp thought it was. She said they would rather refer 100 cases and all 100 cases come back negative. I do totally understand your fear though! Take it easy and relax as much as you can x

I bled on my first smear and I have bled at every smear since. I'm now late 40s. The bleeding was enough at last week's smear for the nurse to open a pack of gauze to put in my knickers to go home with.

The reason for the bleed? I have an eroded cervix. Nothing at all to worry about. It's just how my body was made.

Please try not to worry. All the best.

No.
Those screening programmes for certain cancers are designed to be run efficiently.
It's not the same as being referred for other things at all.

You said the other referral was for ENT issues, there's no national screening programme for that so it's not run efficiently.

No, it doesn't mean it is cancer at all. Get of google and believe the nurse.

Which can be easily treated. I've had loads of abnormal smears and had an area removed. I'm fine.

It isn't necessarily health anxiety if this is only the first instance of it.