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Cervix removal

dhuntb
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Hi, I'm a 22 year old female. My mother and grandmother and great grandmother (all from mother's side) all had cervical cancer, meaning I am most likely next in line. I had some issues with spotting between periods and during/after intercourse, pain etc, unusual discharge, so went to my gp. She insert the speculum and had a look etc and sent off swabs and there seems to be no abnormal changes to the cells or anything like that. However, given my family history would it be possible for me as a young woman to ask for my cervix to be removed? I don't plan to have children, and have always told myself that if the day came that I longed for a child that I would foster/adopt as I myself was in the system growing up and we are in desperate need of careers. I'm also attracted to women and the idea of going through a pregnancy is a big massive no-no for me- I've known this since I was 11/12 lol a decade later and I know my mind is set. Given my family history and the risks can I just ask for it to be done just like that? Or would I have to wait until there is cin1/2/3? Please help me, my mother was first diagnosed at 24, went into remission but then later diagnosed with invasive cancer and passed at 36. I don't want that for my life, I have 2 beautiful nieces and I couldn't leave them behind. Does anybody know what I should do next, if I should ask my gp? I think I'm also due to see a gynaecologist soon for them to have a look or possibly take some cells to check. Thanks for reading please advise x

  • Hello dhuntb and thanks for posting,

    I am sorry to learn about your family history of cervical cancer and can appreciate why you have concerns about developing  it yourself. 

    I haven't come across anyone who was offered surgery to remove their cervix in this sort of situation so I don't think it is usually done. But to find out for sure if it is a possibility,  you need to talk to your GP or the gynaecologist. 

    Doctors don't usually undertake surgery without good reason and there probably isn't much in the way of evidence about removing the cervix as a preventative measure. In general preventative cancer surgery isn't at all common and is only usually offered when someone's risk has been assessed and thought to be high enough to justify an operation. These sorts of assessments can be done at family/genetic cancer clinics so as a starting point you could ask your GP if they can take advice from or refer you to one of these.

    By the way I just wanted to say that if  CIN is diagnosed and needs to be treated -sometimes CIN 1 is monitored for a while and goes away by itself - the treatment takes away the affected area not all of the cervix.

    You probably already know about the link between the human papilloma virus (HPV) and cervical cancer. Although it doesn't prevent every case of cervical cancer, getting the HPV jab can reduce the risk. And similarly cervical screening, which now incorporates HPV testing, can reduce risk but not completely. Taken together, both HPV vaccination as well as screening are now well established ways of trying to prevent cervical cancer from developing that weren't available to previous generations.

    Having a first degree relative (mother, sibling or child) who has had cervical cancer can increase the risk of developing it, but the reasons why aren't clear. Sometimes family members share risk factors for example smoking that might explain this. As far as I know, genetic factors that contribute to cervical cancer aren't well understood. Our website explains the known risks and causes of cervical cancer at this link. 

    I hope you get the chance to talk about this with your doctor soon.

    Please give us a ring if you want to talk anything over, our number is Freephone 0808 800 4040 and we are here weekdays,  from 9am till 5pm. 

    Wishing you the best,

    Julia

     

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