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Smear returned saying not due yet

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Hi All, wanting some advice. Due to adnormal bleeding for 2 months running, picked up the courage to go for a smear test (I do them at the recommended intervals but this one was ad hoc). This was among other tests my doctor did about 3 weeks ago. I had a call from my doctor today to say that the lab had rejected it as "I'm not due for my smear yet" I feel slightly outraged at this as I'm sure cancer doesn't sit there saying "oh no we can't appear in her body she's not due for her test" is there some sort of ombudsman I can go to about this it's just not right!! If I do turn out to have cervical cancer surely the loss of many weeks could make a difference for my outcome? 

  • Hello and thank you for your post,

    The NHS Cervical Screening Programme is for people with no symptoms. A screening programme is designed to look for signs of cancer or in the case of cervical screening  to look for cervical cell changes in women that have no symptoms to prevent them getting cervical cancer. So people will be invited to have it done when it is due. If anyone has worrying symptoms they should go to see their GP, that is what you did. If a GP is concerned about vaginal bleeding then an examination of the cervix may be carried out and a referral to see a gynaecologist may be needed.

    For the majority of women with vaginal bleeding it is not caused by cancer but it is still good to get checked out. The NHS has got some information about the causes of this here 

    I hope you will be okay. Please get back to us if you need any more information or support.  You may find it helpful to talk things through with one of the nurses on our helpline.  The number to call is Freephone 0808 800 4040 and the lines are open from 9am till 5pm Monday to Friday.

    Take care,

    Caroline 

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