Cervical Cancer Prevention Week 22-28 January 2012

pearl123

Spicyprawn - it's quite normal to worry and be upset. I certainly was. Good thing the smear was done. I had CIN3 which was treated 8 years ago. I now have annual smear tests, which they may give you too, if they find something which they need to be seen to.

Re: health. It was suggested to me that I quit smoking, as there is a possible link. I quit about 3 years after. Also a healthy diet of course is a good idea.

ktb

spicyprawn wrote: »

Also did you worry at first too?

Absolutely, I think that when you are given any news that something isn't quite right with your health you worry! Although I was more concerned when it reoccurred - as I had been lead to believe that the cell removal procedure would 'cure' it... I had no idea that it was caused by a virus and that, if your body can't beat that, this can keep reoccuring.

spicyprawn wrote: »

I do admit to googling it quite a few horror stories about, kicked my self for even bothering! It is the whole 'burning' (sorry can't remember the name? loop?) that is bothering me to be honest as no two stories are the same lol. See I am already getting ready for something I probably won't even need!

we all do this but nothing you read will ever match your situation exactly. There is no harm in being better informed, but scaring yourself unneccessarily isn't going to help! The 'burning' (LLETZ or wire loop) procedure is going to be different for everyone i'm sure, but I really didn't find it that bad. You have a local anesthetic, so you don't feel anything of the loop itself and it was over very quickly. I took a couple of ibuprofen beforehand and personally i've had worse period pain. I just kept thinking that, compared to treatment for Cancer, those 15 slightly uncomfortable mins of my life paled into insignificance.

spicyprawn wrote: »

May I ask what sort of health changes you made? No worries if you would rather not.

In the month that I was told was back to CIN 3 (after already having had one LLETZ procedure) my Mum was diagnosed with a secondary Breast Cancer tumour. I then read far too much about Cancer and all the possible causes and gave up pretty much EVERYTHING! I was basically living on organic vegetables, fruit, water & 'superfoods' etc ... I would not recommend this though, as you really dont have much of a social life, can't eat out easily.... But I also realised how stressed and negative my life was and I took up yoga, read loads of self-help stuff and changed jobs, which were all positive things for me. All in all my life changed pretty dramatically and funnily enough my next smear was a CIN 1, which even the Dr admitted was most likely due to all the lifestyle changes. It was mostly pretty healthy but bits of what I was doing were also far too extreme and there was no way I could continue in that vein. Life is for enjoying after all :beer:

I continue to eat pretty healthily and am a much less stressed, happier person... but my cell change started moving the wrong way again 2 years ago and it was decided that doing another loop was for the best, as my cell change was showing no signs of going away by itself. The risk with this 2nd procedure is that the cervix can be weakened for carrying a baby to term, but there are now things they can do to help this - so i'm crossing everything this won't be an issue, as i don't yet have any kids and I desperately want to be a Mum.

As pearl123 mentioned, smoking is the big one though. Over 50% of people with cervical cell change are smokers - so if you fall into that category I highly recommend quitting. I have never smoked so I didn't also have this to contend with, but they have definitely proven a link that it puts you at far higher risk. Interestingly, men also carry many of the carcinogens from cigarette smoke in their seminal fluid - so if you are having sex, without a condom, with a male smoker, this can also have an impact if you have a venerable cervix!

pearl123

Also it is worth mentioning that not everyone carries HPV virus. I was tested and they found none present.

spicyprawn

Hi :wave:

pearl123 wrote: »

Spicyprawn - it's quite normal to worry and be upset. I certainly was. Good thing the smear was done. I had CIN3 which was treated 8 years ago. I now have annual smear tests, which they may give you too, if they find something which they need to be seen to.

Re: health. It was suggested to me that I quit smoking, as there is a possible link. I quit about 3 years after. Also a healthy diet of course is a good idea.

I rang my nurse up yesterday and she informed me that I would be having the loop and like you the annual smears following on from 3x 6 monthly checks.

I stopped smoking 7 weeks ago today I eat quite healthily, put a bit of weight on since I stopped smoking but it seems to be bloatage! as it is up and down and only my abdomen area.

I must admit I am not as worried since talking to you, ktb and my nurse, so thank you

ktb wrote: »

we all do this but nothing you read will ever match your situation exactly. There is no harm in being better informed, but scaring yourself unneccessarily isn't going to help! The 'burning' (LLETZ or wire loop) procedure is going to be different for everyone i'm sure, but I really didn't find it that bad. You have a local anesthetic, so you don't feel anything of the loop itself and it was over very quickly. I took a couple of ibuprofen beforehand and personally i've had worse period pain. I just kept thinking that, compared to treatment for Cancer, those 15 slightly uncomfortable mins of my life paled into insignificance.



In the month that I was told was back to CIN 3 (after already having had one LLETZ procedure) my Mum was diagnosed with a secondary Breast Cancer tumour. I then read far too much about Cancer and all the possible causes and gave up pretty much EVERYTHING! I was basically living on organic vegetables, fruit, water & 'superfoods' etc ... I would not recommend this though, as you really dont have much of a social life, can't eat out easily.... But I also realised how stressed and negative my life was and I took up yoga, read loads of self-help stuff and changed jobs, which were all positive things for me. All in all my life changed pretty dramatically and funnily enough my next smear was a CIN 1, which even the Dr admitted was most likely due to all the lifestyle changes. It was mostly pretty healthy but bits of what I was doing were also far too extreme and there was no way I could continue in that vein. Life is for enjoying after all :beer:

I continue to eat pretty healthily and am a much less stressed, happier person... but my cell change started moving the wrong way again 2 years ago and it was decided that doing another loop was for the best, as my cell change was showing no signs of going away by itself. The risk with this 2nd procedure is that the cervix can be weakened for carrying a baby to term, but there are now things they can do to help this - so i'm crossing everything this won't be an issue, as i don't yet have any kids and I desperately want to be a Mum.

As pearl123 mentioned, smoking is the big one though. Over 50% of people with cervical cell change are smokers - so if you fall into that category I highly recommend quitting. I have never smoked so I didn't also have this to contend with, but they have definitely proven a link that it puts you at far higher risk. Interestingly, men also carry many of the carcinogens from cigarette smoke in their seminal fluid - so if you are having sex, without a condom, with a male smoker, this can also have an impact if you have a venerable cervix!

The bold part is something I have been trying to tell myself except I couldn't get my tongue round it when trying to explain to DH, I hope you don't mind me showing him so he understands me better?

How is your Mum doing now?
I can understand why you cancelled out most things. I wouldn't recommend it either and I don't even have a social life I think I do need to start being more positive too, which is something I am looking into. I must say you do sound very positive despite the things you have had to cope with so far! I admire you and your upbeat attitude.

I am glad they have found ways of helping regarding carrying a baby to term and I hope this does work for you if needed

Thank you for being so open about it all, I feel a lot more relaxed. I am sure on the day I will start feeling more anxious again but I will be ok.

Spicy


ps- is it ok to drive after?

pearl123

Spicyprawn - if you are having loop done then I believe it is normally recommended that you take someone with you and do not drive.

Very well done with smoking. I too put on weight - about a stone. It hasn't come off yet but to be honest it could now be called middle age spread!

spicyprawn

Thank you Pearl

I think I must have put on about a stone already hehe! I am finding I want to eat and savour the taste of most things at the moment. I am having physio at the moment and I am limited on what exercises I can do but hopefully all goes well and I can start doing a bit more 'weight loss' stuff.

I feel really good regarding stopping smoking, how do you feel now?

My husband is going to be coming with me but he does not drive so I said that we would stay for a while after until I feel ready. My good friend is already picking my girls up from their schools and Mum did offer but she is always helping out and I hate to put people out (she would have to take time off work). Do you think it is going to be that painful after?
In my leaflet it says I can drive but not straight away, I don't know whether that means after loop treatment or just the colposcomy?

Thank you again

fannyanna

Spicyprawn - I've had treatment and I didn't find it painful and I'm a wimp. Although everyone is different and I don't mean to imply that people who do find it painful are wimps.

They numb the area that they're treating so the only discomfort is from them using the speculum etc and that's just like having a smear.

The only pain I had was after the treatment had been done. I had period like cramps but even then they weren't that bad.

Hope you can manage to put everything to the back of your mind for now - although I know just how worrying it can be x

spicyprawn

Hi fannyanna, I'm not too bothered about pain as long as I can still get about, it's more the sensation of things!
To be honest the part I am worried about the most is the burning flesh smell! Which I suppose is not that bad either I am just imagining the worse things.
I will be ok after, I know I will be back here telling you all how I didn't know what I was fussing about

Thank you for letting me know how yours went

xxzowiexx

Please take a look at this page, they are doing a petition to get the age for smear tests lowered and need all the signatures they can. Thank you.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Mercedes-Curnow-Foundation-for-the-early-detection-of-Cervical-Cancer/256086177789827

fannyanna

spicyprawn wrote: »

To be honest the part I am worried about the most is the burning flesh smell!

I was worried about that too but I didn't notice anything.