Cervical Cancer Prevention Week 22-28 January 2012

j.e.j.

Person-one, well for instance a urine test?? You used to have to go to the drs for an internal examination to determine whether you were pregnant. These days you can just pee on a stick! :rotfl:Science and medicine move forward all the time.

Your response reads like you kind of agree that pressure should be put on women to have the test done. OK that's your opinion. I disagree strongly.

Person_one

j.e.j. wrote: »

Person-one, well for instance a urine test?? You used to have to go to the drs for an internal examination to determine whether you were pregnant. These days you can just pee on a stick! :rotfl:Science and medicine move forward all the time.

Your response reads like you kind of agree that pressure should be put on women to have the test done. OK that's your opinion. I disagree strongly.

Where did you get that? Its about being informed. You have every right to turn the test down but it would be negligent to let women think they weren't taking a risk by doing so.

Abnormal cells on the cervix would never appear in urine, unfortunately sometimes you have to go to the source of the issue. Just as you can diagnose lots of things from a stool sample, there are conditions you can't find without a colonoscopy.

claire16c

What exactly do you mean by pressure j.e.j?

Most doctors as far as Im aware, send out 3-4 letters and then if the woman doesnt respond they stop sending the letters. And if you go for an appt about something related like the pill, then theyd remind you then too.

I dont think thats being highly pressurised.

Abb1e

caeler wrote: »

A plea from me to who is ever reading, please don't opt out of a smear test because you are scared.

I don't think you get what the level of "scared" is for some people.

Saying the tests are mild in comparison to childbirth or the treatment for cancer is irrelevant to me as I will not be taking part in either. Why? Because I was a victim of childhood sexual abuse. I have also been repeatedly raped as an adult. The idea of having a smear test makes me want to scream, I can barely tolerate people touching my arms accidentally never mind have a stranger do an intrusive test such as this. I have had one smear test and will never have another. That was nearly 19 years ago and I still haven't recovered from it.

I am in no hurry to die, but we all do and if it is going to be this way then so be it. The risks of me dying in this way are very small and when weighed against the personal ordeal of taking part in the screening programme, my decision is to choose not to participate.

I am not telling everyone to refuse screening, but it annoys me that people with no knowledge of the circumstances of others try to strong arm them into doing something against their will and to the detriment of their mental (if not physical) health.

And please please don't tell me that if I relax while having it done and take someone with me it will be fine.
IT WON'T.

nickyhutch

Abb1e wrote: »

I don't think you get what the level of "scared" is for some people.

Saying the tests are mild in comparison to childbirth or the treatment for cancer is irrelevant to me as I will not be taking part in either. Why? Because I was a victim of childhood sexual abuse. I have also been repeatedly raped as an adult. The idea of having a smear test makes me want to scream, I can barely tolerate people touching my arms accidentally never mind have a stranger do an intrusive test such as this. I have had one smear test and will never have another. That was nearly 19 years ago and I still haven't recovered from it.

I am in no hurry to die, but we all do and if it is going to be this way then so be it. The risks of me dying in this way are very small and when weighed against the personal ordeal of taking part in the screening programme, my decision is to choose not to participate.

I am not telling everyone to refuse screening, but it annoys me that people with no knowledge of the circumstances of others try to strong arm them into doing something against their will and to the detriment of their mental (if not physical) health.

And please please don't tell me that if I relax while having it done and take someone with me it will be fine.
IT WON'T.

I'm sorry for what you've been through; that's horrific.

Who has tried to strong arm you into having a smear?

Abb1e

nickyhutch wrote: »

I'm sorry for what you've been through; that's horrific.

Who has tried to strong arm you into having a smear?

My GP.
Everytime I see them, regardless of what it's about.

nickyhutch

Abb1e wrote: »

My GP.
Everytime I see them, regardless of what it's about.

Put a complaint in. Get him to put it in your records that you have had the risks of not having a smear done explained, and you're declining.

Abb1e

nickyhutch wrote: »

Put a complaint in. Get him to put it in your records that you have had the risks of not having a smear done explained, and you're declining.

Don't think I haven't tried that but the letters and questions still keep coming.

nickyhutch

Abb1e wrote: »

Don't think I haven't tried that but the letters and questions still keep coming.

I'd be changing GP in that case, Abbie.

Abb1e

nickyhutch wrote: »

I'd be changing GP in that case, Abbie.

8 GP's in 19 years.

I've recently moved house and haven't registered with a GP for precisely this reason.