Should I phone gynae and cancel my referral?

[hopefulmummytobe78]

I posted a couple of weeks ago about being referred after my smear test. I was referred to colposcopy after bleeding during the test and having a cyst on my cervix.

Two weeks on and the results are back, I'm HPV negative and the letter states, in bold, "there is no need to get abnormal cell changes checked, even if you have had these in the past".

When I try and use the NHS app to book the appointment for the referral, it tells me the clinic has no appointments for me to book.

I phoned my GP surgery and the receptionist told me she couldn't advise me either way, but she would go because it's "better to be safe than sorry".

My mum thinks they'll refuse to see me.

What do I do? I honestly don't want to wait 26 weeks for an appointment because knowing my luck it'll come in just as I'm off for the summer, and I will not be cancelling those plans. Surely the normal smear is enough?

I would go.

Cervical cancer is the fourth most common malignancy in women worldwide. Although infection from human papillomavirus (HPV) has been the leading cause of cervical cancer, HPV-negative cervical cancer accounts for approximately 3-8% of all cases.

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9537028/#:~:text=Cervical%20cancer%20is%20the%20fourth,%2D8%25%20of%20all%20cases.

But I have no symptoms and no concerns.

The smear results were HPV negative but the bleeding and cyst is surely enough to continue with a referral? Its not normal to bleed during a smear, and the HPV status is reassuring of course but I would still go.

It's totally normal to bleed during a smear due to irritation of the cervix, the nurse told me that herself.

The cyst is, again, totally normal - many women have them

The bleeding and cyst were the triggers to refer to colposcopy, as you said in your first post. If you're happy not to follow up, then don't, entirely your decision.

Um… on your last thread, where you were utterly convinced it was cancer and wouldn’t let anyone convince you otherwise, you said you’d lost both your mum and your nan to gynae cancer. So, I’m assuming the mum you refer to is a step mum you’re very close to, even though you said you had no one to speak to in the last thread.

That said, if you’ve lost people to cervical cancer, I’m very surprised you’ve changed from “it must be cancer - 500 of you are wrong” to “I’m cancelling the referral - I can’t let it wreck my summer.” A cyst is still capable of causing damage to your cervix and that damage CAN lead to cancer (any time cells are multiplying more often than they should, like a site of ongoing damage, there’s a higher chance of cancer). You need to get it checked and it may need to be removed.

Also, you need to see someone and get the HPV vaccine. At 25, you’re not too old yet to get it free on the NHS but you will be at 26 so it’s a matter of some urgency. Luck only lasts so long.

I really do wish you the best. I’m just really surprised how flippant you are in comparison to your last post where you were convinced it was cancer, NO ONE could talk you out of it, and now you’re ready to just roll the dice.

I would get the colposcopy. You have a family history. The test for HPV came back negative, but it does happen that tests produce false negative (or false positive) results.

Based on this from your previous thread -

It's quite alarming that you don't understand that I lost my mum and nan to cancer when I was very young - my mum when I was 10 and my nan when I was 11. Both had significant gynae issues and in my head, I've equated all gynae issues to that. I am scared, and that's okay.

I'd probably just go to the appointment.

Are you the poster who was absolutely convinced she had cancer but refused to listen to anybody's advice or reassurance and said we were all wrong and she you definitely had cancer?

Yup

For anyone confused by references (and @TheFormidableMrsC ), this is the former post OP refers to in her opening post:

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_health/5016658-be-brutally-honest-its-cancer-isnt-it

Of course you should still go. Why wouldn't you get everything checked out?

I thought you said you'd lost your mum on your last post? But you say she's now saying they will refuse to see you?

They won't refuse if they are referring you. I don't get how it will ruin your summer if you are so unconcerned as to cancel it now. Just take the appointment and check everything is ok.

Please go to your appointment. Best to get checked.

Definitely get checked out.
The human body is complicated and things can happen and change over time.

Go to the appointment.

I would still go. I went to colposcopy 2 days ago, it was reasonably quick. HPV isn’t the only cause of cancer (though mine was for a HPV positive smear with abnormal cells).

No, you don't cancel. A few short weeks ago you were virtually planning your funeral and telling a ton of women they were wrong and that you definitely had cancer. Now you're being offered an opportunity to have a thorough check and you have "no concerns". Just go and do it. You're being an idiot.