Another cervical smear / colposcopy / cancer post...

[startingoveragainagain]

I've been having smears regularly since I was 16 (i'm 50 now), soon after meeting my husband (I was late 30s) I had an irregular result, so had a call back but the next one was fine. Three years ago I had an irregular result, so had to go back for a repeat smear last year, and this year on Monday, I had another repeat one (as they are monitoring the dodgy cells), anyway tonight just as I was dishing up dinner I receive a text saying I have to go for a coloscopy on the 16th.

I've had THE most stressful last 6 months, and i'm not surprised the stress has had an impact on my health.

I'm really worried. The results seem to have come back very quick and surely this means something dodgy has been brewing for at least 3/4 years maybe closer to 20.

I've been lifting a lot of weights lately and have some aches and pains - but now i'm thinking maybe they were something else.

thoughts?

Noone can really tell you much here

I hope everything goes well and you get the all clear

I had a colposcopy a few months ago after a smear picked up HPV and a high risk of cell changes. I was already booked I for a hysterectomy for possible uterine cancer so it was rushed through as not to cancel my hysterectomy, I was petrified and was sure I have cervical cancer. Even during the procedure I was told it looked like I had CIN2, biopsy was taken and pushed through quickly. It came back as no CIN at all (no abnormal cells) so just positive for HPV. I also got the all clear from uterine cancer 2 weeks ago (15 weeks after surgery).

I guess what I am saying is that even if the smear came back as high risk it might be nothing at all. I know it’s easy to say “don’t worry” but these tests are there to catch these things early and even if it is something it’s likely treatable.

I’m not sure if this will help, but I had a smear came back abnormal, needed a letts treatment, then had a normal smear, then the next one I had to be sent for a colposcopy, they then sent me for a cervix cone biopsy, came back as CIN111 and they took away some pre cancerous cells, my last 2 smears have been fine, everything moves fast, and they don’t actually explain what it means, so it is scary, sometimes it can be abnormal but not cancer at all! Just HPV which is classed as abnormal cell charges.

It's such a worry, and it's been hanging over me for years, but I wish they'd said another way, rather than a text message.

Congratulations on your good results ;)

By the sound of things you've been very good at having your regular smear tests. Even if it is something bad, you've caught it early as the reason they test every three years is it takes a few years for cancer to develop.... and it develops quicker in younger people, so with the greatest respect you have age on your side!

So many of my friends have had colposcopies, some three or four times. They do a colposcopy to remove changing cells so it happens a lot.

I'm certain you will be absolutely fine xx

It really is scary - and as i've never had anything done apart from zillions of smears it feels like something bad could've been going on all along.

Glad to hear your results lovemusic82!! I have just had a result of HPV and severe abnormal cells. Booked in for coloscopy in 2 weeks too. Fingers crossed all is well for you

Did they just text you or did you get a letter / call explain? I've just been on the NHS app and it just says about the appointment, not results, no letter :/

Hope all goes ok for you. It was a huge rush for me, they called me when I was on the way to hospital for a pre op appointment, luckily they booked me straight in for colposcopy a couple days later (they tried to fit me in that day), it was a stressful week waiting for the results especially after they implied I had at least CIN2, I think what they were looking at was erosion rather than CIN2. Getting the all clear was a huge relief and then getting the all clear for uterine cancer (13 weeks after surgery) was the icing on the cake. I feel really lucky.

I got a letter in the post. That's so annoying for you.

I can imagine that was awfully scary for you. My appointment is in 2 weeks. Feeling very anxious. I've got stomach pains and been having irregular bleeding for a while too. My letter says high grade dyskaryosis. Says in most cases these cells are not found to be cancer, but that still isn't really making me feel better.

my letter was emailed to me today it was totally generic, listed 4 reasons I may have been called back for. I've ordered some AHCC and Methylfolate probably should've done this a year ago.

Bet 16th feels a long time off. How you feeling??

Results can vary from borderline (watchful waiting like you've had) or cin 1-3 with 3 being through the most layers of cells. I had cin 3 cells removed several years ago. Nothing sinister, they removed them then next smear back to normal. It's quite common op 😁

Thank you Sarah.

I've been having Colposcopies yearly since 2019! I've had cold coagulation a couple of years again which didn't get rid of all the cells and more recently had a loop excision.

I was told cell changes can take a long time to occur which is why I have just been monitored. Hopefully they have got rid of all the cells, I'm just waiting on my results.

I had years of call backs and colposcopies, had pregnancies inbetween, had 3 LLETZ done, all over the course of about 15 years I think. Cell changes are extremely slow. Nobody was ever greatly concerned about me and I had CIN 3.

Don't the letters say what the issue is op ? You will get referred to colposcopy after 3 consecutive HPV results even without cell changes or it will tell you if there are low -high grade cell changes .

I finally got a letter and it's 3 consecutive HPV results.

It's shit isn't it
I must have caught it at least 20 years ago
I don't think it will ever go away

And they only contact you after three consecutive positive HPV results? Why not after the first one?

If you get a positive HPV result they examine the cells they took, and if they look normal then no further action needed.

They do
But if there's no abnormal cells detected they leave it until 3 HPV+ results and then you get sent for a colposcope

I think because most people's bodies fight off HPV and it goes away, once you're older though your body struggles to kill HPV off.

Fair enough. I hope you get it sorted, OP.