Cervical Cancer Prevention Week 22-28 January 2012

System

I need to get myself a smear booked now i'm finally 25

Need to book a blood test anyway so may as well get the smear booked as well, thank you for this as it reminded me

caeler

totheleft wrote: »

I was told the HPV virus is caught from men, is this true?

No because HPV can lay dormant in the body and both men and women can transmit it.

goodmorningsunshine

[QUOTE=mountainofdebt
In my experience they don't send you to the hospital on your first abnormal result - you have another smear 6 months after the abnormal one and only if that one is abnormal do you get sent to hospital.[/QUOTE]

I was referred to the Hospital for a scan and I didn't even have a smear. From hosp appointment to admittance for Biopsy took only 23 days, taking into account we had Xmas holidays

QUOTE "in fact when I went last time I was asked if I wanted to see what was going on" UNQUOTE

Me too, the consultant said he could turn the screen round and let me see, but I then looked at the Nurses faces, which told me it wasn't a good idea, but said I would still like to see. Don't know what came over me - I'm the one who covers my eyes watching casualty!!!
Anyway, he never turned the screen, wonder why????

17 days and counting - not had my results yet!!!

No news is good news.

fannyanna

caeler wrote: »

Hi fannyanna - thank you for sharing your experience. If your in need for support have you been in touch with Jo's Trust? http://www.jostrust.org.uk They are a cervical cancer charity.

I've used the forums on Jo's and found the support from the women on there invaluable.

The horror stories relating to cervical cancer have been highlighted through jade goody and story lines on various soaps to the point that I think it's quite scary when you get told there are abnormalities. You automatically presume you have cancer and that you're going to die. It's only when you look into things that you're reassured that abnormalities are quite common and for the majority of women the abnormalities are not serious.

I think it's great charities such as Jo's are trying to educate women and also remove the stigma of cervical cancer.

sock-knitter

when they found abnormal cells, they told me to go and have another in 3 months, which i did, got the results back, and this time its clear, but because of past results, i have to have another in 6 months time

seems to me that every area is different on the length of time between tests

i used to find smears very painful, but with the new nurse based at my surgery i hardly felt a thing, she warmed the instrument they insert first, and didnt twist it in like some do, which causes the pain

kingfisherblue

I had abnormalities several times after my daughter was born. As a result, I had to attend hospital clinics, have cone biopsies, and put off having a second child. Fortunately, it turned out fine - my cervix bled each time a scrape was taken and this meant that the results couldn't be read properly, so it showed as abnormal. Since then, I have had a further two children and no further abnormal smears. I have recently gone to three yearly tests after several years of annual tests.

My daughter is now 20, and my sons are 13 and 12, so the abnormal results were a few years ago. I don't know whether blood present in a smear would still show an abnormal result, but this proves that an abnormal smear does not always mean cancer. However, nor should it be ignored!

tinktinktinkerbell

totheleft wrote: »

I'm 26 and asked for a smear test but my GP said I don't need one as I am a virgin.

Is this true? I don't understand how being a virgin stops it from happening. I'm still worried but I think I'm being stupid as I should trust the GP.

apparently you have less chance if you are a virgin

ive never had a smear (no hassle please, its personal choice)

caeler

fannyanna wrote: »

The horror stories relating to cervical cancer have been highlighted through jade goody and story lines on various soaps to the point that I think it's quite scary when you get told there are abnormalities. You automatically presume you have cancer and that you're going to die.

You make a good point, there are horror stories out there but it is still very rare to be diagnosed with cervical cancer and it can be cured. Most abnormalities are pre-cancerous and because of the screening process get picked up early to be removed and not become cancer! (Obviously you know this but I'm saying it for the benefit of people who might be reading!)

grey_lady

If you arent feeling heard by your gp then you can always have a smear done privately, even with a gp/gynae costs about £100.

caeler

grey_lady wrote: »

If you arent feeling heard by your gp then you can always have a smear done privately, even with a gp/gynae costs about £100.

Hi Grey Lady - Interestingly Marie Stopes offers this discounted to £50 tor the under 25's instead of £105. http://www.mariestopes.org.uk/Womens_services/Cervical_screening/Screening_for_under_25s.aspx
I've also read that the screening process starts age 20 if in Wales or Scotland.