FabSwingers.com forum: Abnormal smear....ladies help please!!

By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

Had a letter this morning saying my smear results had come back abnormal so am being referred for a colposcopy. I rang Cervical Screening Wales as I wanted to know what level of abnormalities were detected (as some parts of the U.K explain this in the letter) but she said they don't have specific results available (I am doubtful if this is true or she just didn't want to divulge over the phone.) Anyway, I know it is hopefully something that can be easilly treated. I am currently trying to convince myself I don't have cancer. It says it is unlikely on the letter but it is lurking in the back of my mind. Just wanted to offload really and any positive stories would be welcome xx

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Wish i could help you lovely lady. I had abnormal 20 yrs ago. But i just had to have a few smears throughout the yr. They think i may have had an infection on the day. Its wrong when they cant put your mind at ease. I hope someone on here can offer more advice. Stay strong and positive lovely xx

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By *elsh_lass74Woman
over a year ago

South Wales

Such a shitty worded letter isn't it?! Unfortunately it is the standard letter they send out. Which isn't great if you are the one it's addressed to.

It can either mean, the cells they took have started to change or they didn't take enough cells.

You don't need to panic. The worse they will do at this stage is drag you in for yearly smears.

Early detection is the key.

After a number of abnormal smears, they will take a biopsy, if needed they can do laser surgery to kill all the bad cells.

They will keep a close eye on you, so please attend each appointment.

Worse case scenario, they will do a hysterectomy. But this will be only in extreme cases.

I suppose I was one of the lucky ones. I was mid 30s had 2 kids, lost 2. (Now I see it was because my cervix had a lot of treatment and couldn't hold a baby full term) I'm still here for my kids.

It's not too scary. Here to chat and answer any questions x

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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

The lady I spoke to on the phone said they had detected the high risk strain of hpv (which causes 90% of cervical cancers) and also abnormal cell changes, she just couldn't tell me the severity of the changes over the phone and says they will be able to tell me more when I go for a colposcopy. Joyful

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I had a radical hysterectomy at 30 following the same letter, I saw it as the worst outcome at the time, but in hindsight it was the best & least risky outcome. I had no further cancer related issues & that worry was removed X

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I have had abnormal cells alot of the time.then the next test will either be clear or had to redo again lol

Please don't get yourself worked up (yeah I know easier said than done!!!)

It could just possibly be as simple as they need to redo the test. The letter that they send automatically gives women major worries

Hope all goes well x

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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

"I had a radical hysterectomy at 30 following the same letter, I saw it as the worst outcome at the time, but in hindsight it was the best & least risky outcome. I had no further cancer related issues & that worry was removed X"

They can take it all as far as I care Peach lol I don't need any of it anymore xx

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By *arrapsMan
over a year ago

port talbot

Keep in a positive frame of mind, the letters the nhs send out are generic, as others have said it's been spotted early and they want to do another check

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I have had a number of abnormal smears over the years. And a few colposcopy procedures. On one occasion the abnormal cells required laser treatment.

The result has always been that my next smear after tests returns to normal. You will be called in for more regular smears if they deem it necessary.

Remember that the cells in this part of the female body are in constant flux, hence the regular checks to monitor any abnormal situation.

I wish you well and hope things settle down quickly x

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I've had a high score of cancerous cells, had the colposcopy treatment, and the biopsy quite a few years ago now, my smears have been clear for years..

You have children, are happy, don't worry yourself too much..

I don't think it's as big a deal as it used to be, and I think they have it all much better in hand these days..

Your not alone girl, keep your chin up x

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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

Thankyou everyone for the kind replies. Hopefully will have an appointment soon so I can find out exactly what the crack is. The not knowing is the worst bit xx

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

They can take it all as far as I care Peach lol I don't need any of it anymore xx"

That was my position at the time X

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By *iss-louWoman
over a year ago

Cardiff

I had an abnormal smear 23 years ago. I had a colposcopy and it wasnt pleasant.not going to lie. I would take someone with yoy to hokd your hand but I didnt have cancer and had to have smears every few months and then back to 3 yearly. Ive never had another abnormal one..

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Youll be fine, go for your colposcopy, they will paint your cervix with iodine and assess you. So many women have this you really don't need to stress xx

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

As a bloke the only thing I can say is to go and have what ever tests they recommend. Keep checking yourself etc and stay positive.

Always better to air on the side of caution than to not do anything.

Hope all goes well and thinking of you.

Stay strong tho. Xxx

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

From a Male point of view keep strong and positive thinking that all will be well and you have all the support from us lot on fab whatever the outcome is #postivethinking

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Keep strong and positive by bestie had an abnormal spear and had cervical cancer as bad as it sounds they heat blasted inside twice and was all clear

hopefully it’s notbing to worry about! I know I had an abnormal smear the first time I had mine done and they did again and I was fine so fingers crossed

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

we think this lady needs a cwtch. x

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"we think this lady needs a cwtch. x"

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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

Thankyou guys xx I have an appointment at the hospital for Tuesday xx

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By *sGivesWoodWoman
over a year ago

ST. AUSTELL, CORNWALL

I had an abnormal smear. They retested and it was fine. I was told they may not have got a decent sample to test. Hope you're OK OP x

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"Thankyou guys xx I have an appointment at the hospital for Tuesday xx"

Will be thinking of you & you know where I am if you need me

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"Thankyou guys xx I have an appointment at the hospital for Tuesday xx"

Excellent. Got everything crossed for you xx

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"Had a letter this morning saying my smear results had come back abnormal so am being referred for a colposcopy. I rang Cervical Screening Wales as I wanted to know what level of abnormalities were detected (as some parts of the U.K explain this in the letter) but she said they don't have specific results available (I am doubtful if this is true or she just didn't want to divulge over the phone.) Anyway, I know it is hopefully something that can be easilly treated. I am currently trying to convince myself I don't have cancer. It says it is unlikely on the letter but it is lurking in the back of my mind. Just wanted to offload really and any positive stories would be welcome xx"

I had a colposcopy after two abnormal smear results. It was only when I was with the consultant in the hospital, that they were able to tell me exactly how abnormal the results are. Mine were pre cancerous cells and I had a loop diathermy to remove them. That was when I was 22. I've had to have smears every year since then. Not one has come back abnormal, since my procedure. If you have a smear every 3 years and they have come back normal, it's doubtful it would have developed into cancer at this stage. It usually takes years. Wishing you the best of luck lovely xx

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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

This is (foolishly on my part) my first one for 10 years hence why I was flapping. Won't be making that mistake again. I have spoken to my G.P earlier who has informed me that the report she has had says the cell changes are "borderline" so fingers crossed I won't even need any treatment and they will clear on their own xx

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By *ce_and_fireCouple
over a year ago

over the rainbow

Hoping for all the best for you. stressful times we know.

Tuesday not far away then you will know far more.dont be afraid to ask as many questions as YOU deem you have to.

Good luck Hun xxxxx

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"Thankyou guys xx I have an appointment at the hospital for Tuesday xx"

That's great news, it's the not knowing that's hard. Like the others you know I'll be thinking of you. Couldn't text because I've lost most of my numbers on the new phone, I wasn't being rude X

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By *ensualcouple99Couple
over a year ago

Colchester

I had exactly this last october/November. It's so scary and the wait awful.

They actually scraped away two layers at the appt to make sure they got all the abnormal cells.

They turned out to be cin2 which isn't the worst grade so made me feel better when I got the results a few weeks later just before Xmas.

I must say waiting for the results of the op was the hardest part I felt like life was on hold and went thru the whole range of it will be fine to I'm going to die of cancer. But as the weeks went on I tried to convince myself if it was bad news they'd have contacted me quickly.

Once I got the cin2 result and the confirmation that they'd cut all the damaged cells away. It was a case of waiting 6 months to make sure the cells all grew back normally with another smear. Which I did in May and they were all fine.

So I know exactly how you feel right now.

Mrs S

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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

I've just had my biopsy results through the post which show cin2 abnormalities and I have an appointment for a Lletz procedure on the 20th. I am a bit stunned tbh as my initial smear only showed borderline changes (this is what I was told when I went in for my colposcopy) and at the time of the colposcopy the nurse and doctor said from what they could see I almost certainly wouldn't need to have any treatment and they only took a biopsy so they could see if i would need a repeat smear in a year or if I could go back to 3 yearly as normal.

Sorry just offloading xx

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By *ite -meWoman
over a year ago

my house

"I've just had my biopsy results through the post which show cin2 abnormalities and I have an appointment for a Lletz procedure on the 20th. I am a bit stunned tbh as my initial smear only showed borderline changes (this is what I was told when I went in for my colposcopy) and at the time of the colposcopy the nurse and doctor said from what they could see I almost certainly wouldn't need to have any treatment and they only took a biopsy so they could see if i would need a repeat smear in a year or if I could go back to 3 yearly as normal.

Sorry just offloading xx"
Hope all goes ok. Xxx

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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

Sorry just offloading xxHope all goes ok. Xxx"

Thankyou

Just would have preferred to have been prepared rather than being told one thing now facing another especially this close to Xmas could do without hospital visits etc

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By *elsh n wildCouple
over a year ago

Cardiff area

I had this to they scared me when I went for coloscopy by telling me I was off the scale for cancer cells or at the minimum scale wtf coloscopy is okay don’t hurt if ur worried about that took a few appointments to find out but I’m okay and u have to have smears every six months for a while after but I’m back to the three yrs now so don’t worry too much let me know how u get on xxxxxx

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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

They're advising me in the letter to take someone with me and saying I may not be able to drive after the Lletz procedure??

From what I've read online and in the leaflet it's only local anaesthetic. I'll be going on my own so will have to drive myself anyway. I'm confused

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By *elsh n wildCouple
over a year ago

Cardiff area

It’s fine u will be okay to drive I did nth feel no pain after honest

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By *elsh n wildCouple
over a year ago

Cardiff area

I even watched them doing it on camera they tell u to cough and it’s all over

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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

Good good. Pain doesn't bother me I just didn't get the no driving thing.

I made the mistake of watching the biopsy on the camera when I had the colposcopy so i think I will definitely pass on watching the Lletz procedure lol.

Thankyou for your reassuring words

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By *elsh n wildCouple
over a year ago

Cardiff area

Let me know how u get on will be thinking of u

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Hi there, i was in your position about 10 years ago and the positive is the treatment worked just fine and am clear to this day (touch wood). I drove myself to the hospital but then had to ring someone to come and pick me up as I couldn't drive myself home - the local anaesthetic had made my hands go into spasm and I couldn't grip the wheel. This went in a few hours and wasn't painful. The nurses told me that people can react differently to the anaesthetic and she had treated people who had been admitted following the procedure although most women were usually fine. So my advice would be to just have someone on standby to pick you up if your cervix throws a strop because of the anaesthetic. Hope procedure goes well x

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"Good good. Pain doesn't bother me I just didn't get the no driving thing.

I made the mistake of watching the biopsy on the camera when I had the colposcopy so i think I will definitely pass on watching the Lletz procedure lol.

Thankyou for your reassuring words

The not driving thing is a precautionary measure because some people have an adverse effect to the local anaesthetic, plus for some the thought & experience of the procedure can leave them getting wobbly. You shouldn't feel anything on the day but might experience some dull pain after, everyone is different. It's a very worrying time but they're treating you promptly to ensure it's sorted & it's not unusual to have differing advice before you see the specialist X

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