**trigger warning** mention of cancer - cervical screening

[happycupcake]

I was about 18 months overdue my cervical screening when I went for it two weeks ago. I had a feeling my results would return abnormal, although I haven’t had an abnormal result before and I haven’t had any symptoms of anything.

I got a call Tuesday just gone, to say they had found high grade abnormalities and I needed to come in for a colposcopy Thursday (yesterday).
I haven’t been able to eat hardly since or sleep properly. I have spent way too much time panicking and crying because I’m so bloody scared.

I went in yesterday where they were all lovely and the lady who did it said she couldn’t see anything sinister and I could wait for the biopsy results to come back to confirm what they thought or I could have the LLETZ there and then, so I asked them to just do it because I didn’t want to drag it out. It was absolutely fine, completely painless.

I was relieved and initially felt safe that she said she couldn’t see anything sinister because my fear was that they would say it’s already turned into cancer. But now I have had a few hours for it to sink in more, I have this awful fear that she could be wrong and I might get a letter saying I have to go back, and that’s obviously going to be if they find more than the cell changes. How often does this happen? If someone has already got cervical cancer, can they see that usually or is it hit and miss? I can’t really find any clear answers online and all I’m doing is scaring myself more by finding horror stories of people being diagnosed with cancer they think is treatable then it killing them a year later and I am panicking

 

[Babybump87]

Oh lovely how scary for you !
I went for a smear a few years ago and it came back abnormal .

Then went for a colposcopy like you was told they couldn’t see anything sinister and I also opted for the LLETZ there and then which the results came back as non cancerous . I’ve had 3 normal smears since then ! But again like you I freaked out a few hours later and reacted the same way . It’s 110% normal !

Please do not Google anything further ! It will just add further your stress / anxiety . The cells which are abnormal have been removed so I would take comfort in that and the fact she couldn’t see anything sinister .

I noticed you had a baby last year too which could have also caused the abnormal cells (the lady who did my colposcopy told me this). As our cervix naturally changes during and after pregnancy .

I hope you hear back soon in the meantime focus on day to day activities, I know it’s hard ! Sending you lots of hugs xxx

 

[happycupcake]

Thank you and I’m sorry you have had this to deal with too
I had Castiel in 2018 and Bluebell in 2020, then two miscarriages this year. The lady who did mine said that I tested positive for HPV and that like with cold sores stress can cause the virus to flare up which means that then can cause the cell changes. I think I have probably been fairly stressed out but who knows why. They didn’t mention about pregnancy and birth. Only that the LLETZ can sometimes mean you’re at more risk of premature birth if you get pregnant after it. They said lots of things most of which I can’t remember. Maybe they did mention it and I just don’t remember. Trying to stay away from Google x x x

 

[Babybump87]

It’s for sure not a nice time period with stress and worry !

You have had a lot of hormone changes over the last 2 years , so hopefully it’s all related and everything will be fine !

I’ve had DS since and he was born 6 days overdue and he thankfully wasn’t in any rush to be born ahah .

Its very overwhelming in the appointments why I think it doesn’t hit you until later on . Lean on your OH / friends and family for reassurance / support . Always post here too if you feel like you can’t say things to them ! Get it off your chest at least !

Xxx