First smear test this afternoon...terrified

[loulabump]

Dont know why im posting this really...maybe it will help to get it out idk.

I got my first letter inviting me for the test some time back just before i turned 25 but i was pregnant with my daughter at the time and pushed it to the back of my mind. Lately when im reading the news its full of stories about cervical cancer and heartbreaking stories of young mums who know they are dying to the disease and facing their last months with their babies. I told myself i owe it to my family to get myself checked out but i am absolutely terrified...not of the test itself but of the results. I know i have no symptoms and no reason to think anything could be wrong but while my sensible head is telling me this im also thinking two recent stories say terminal cancer was found on their very first smears at 25... this thread is so morbid i know i really cant believe im writing this i cant stop thinking the worst and about how i would cope if they found something...did anyone else feel the same?

 

[missk1989]

hope all went well. I had my results a week later. They dont keep you waiting long.

 

[seoj]

I'm sure all will be just fine hun. It amazes me how many women don't do this yearly- I have since turning 18... I'm now 40. So I've had several! lol. I did have one come back "abnormal"- BUT- it's actually very common that most women have abnormal cells at one time or another- and their bodies fight it off and all is just fine. In my case- they did a biopsy to be sure- and then I went back in every 6mos (instead of annually) for 2yrs and all was TOTALLY fine... and fine since. Never had another abnormal smear. I have friends who dealt with similar- and again they are all fine. I think, because we get them yearly in the states (or we are encouraged to)- it's more common to find... as the more often you test the better chance you have at catching it during that time- BUT, it's still VERY rare for anything more than that to occur. And also very treatable the earlier you catch it- IF there was anything to catch.

Not sure if that gives you any solace... but try not to stress. I'm sure you'll get the letter saying all is clear.

 

[loulabump]

Thanks girls i had the test and it wasn't bad at all but after having my two kids i didnt expect that part to be anything more than embarrassing lol...now just the waiting game...trying to keep busy and focus on christmas...take my mind off it. I wish we got them younger here...25 just seems too old to be getting the first one!

 

[Rcx]

I'm sure all will be just fine hun. It amazes me how many women don't do this yearly- I have since turning 18... I'm now 40. So I've had several! lol. I did have one come back "abnormal"- BUT- it's actually very common that most women have abnormal cells at one time or another- and their bodies fight it off and all is just fine. In my case- they did a biopsy to be sure- and then I went back in every 6mos (instead of annually) for 2yrs and all was TOTALLY fine... and fine since. Never had another abnormal smear. I have friends who dealt with similar- and again they are all fine. I think, because we get them yearly in the states (or we are encouraged to)- it's more common to find... as the more often you test the better chance you have at catching it during that time- BUT, it's still VERY rare for anything more than that to occur. And also very treatable the earlier you catch it- IF there was anything to catch.

Not sure if that gives you any solace... but try not to stress. I'm sure you'll get the letter saying all is clear.

In England and Wales it is only offered for over 25s every 2 years if the first comes back normal. In Scotland (where I am) we are every 2 years from age 20. It is ridiculous considering biggest cause of cervical cancer is HPV which is caught through sexual contact, and our age of consent is 16, so a lot of young people are sexually active from around that age. I think 20 is bad in Scotland but 25 in England is awful. That is a potential almost 10 years of sexual activity with no cervix checks.
There has been a lot of stuff in the media recently with young women dying of it before they were even old enough to have the test.
The downsides of a free healthcare system- they deem the chance of getting cervical cancer below 20/25 too low to merit the test younger. Really sad.

 

[Rcx]

Sorry OP I meant to say in that post please don't worry! You will be absolutely fine ! I've had 3 and they are a breeze & they're is a massively higher chance of it coming back clear than anything else. Xxxx

 

[rebeccalouise]

I hope it all went well! I think you're doing the right thing, by keeping busy - take your mind off it. I wouldn't stress though, I'm more than sure you'll be fine.

I've only ever had swabs taken from down there, when something has been wrong. I've never had a routine smear, as they don't do them here until you're 25! I think it's ridiculous, really wish they'd lower the age I went to the doctors with abnormal bleeding, she wanted to take a smear - then seemed really pissed off that she couldn't, when she asked my age! turns out I have PCOS, as was picked up by a scan, but I just think if it was something serious, would I have just been left!? x