Hi Kell

Cervical cancer can cause many different symptoms and they aren’t always the same for everyone so you can’t really make any kind of self diagnosis about this. Back/sciatic pain can be for lots of different reasons which are usually not as serious as cancer, and not everyone with cervical cancer has heavy bleeding or any bleeding. If you turn to google to try and work out what’s going on, it could scare you silly to no benefit as what you are reading is not individual to you. 

It’s good that you’re seeing your gp, and hopefully he/she will do a pelvic exam and refer you to a gynaecologist if there are any concerns. At this stage, it’s way to early to be thinking about cervical cancer, so try not to let your thoughts run away with you. x

Thanks so much for your repsonse. 
I am a worrier and am awful for googling! 
I am hoping it's just a back problem as I'm maniging to get some sleep it's worse when moving etc. But definitely feels like the nerve is affected as pain in leg and knee shooting pains.

i am hoping they will offer me a smear as only a year away from needing one anyway x

Have you thought about going to a physiotherapist for the back, leg and knee shooting pain?  Sounds right up their street.  Private physio costs £40 (well, that's what I paid for mine) or the GP can refer you to NHS physio and a bit of a wait.  

Hi Kell

A smear is not a diagnostic test for cervical cancer-it is a screening for abnormal cells and they don’t offer smears until age 25 in the UK, so this would not be something you would get at this point. 

Google is your worst enemy if you have symptoms and don’t know what they mean, but you will make them match what you are feeling if you get an idea in your head. I’m assuming google has led you to possible cervical issues, but on the basis of back pain, it’s quite a big leap to make! 

The only way you’ll know if there are any cervical issues is by seeing the doctor, and you are having your appointment soon, so hopefully will get answers which can reassure you. x

Hi Kell

It’s easy to look for things and try and compare yourself to others, but it’s really not the answer as we are all unique. You might find someone who has reported similar symptoms who has some form of cancer. It doesn’t mean you have it, or indeed any cancer. 

Covid jabs have had known effects on menstrual cycles, so it could be that. But looking on a cancer forum won’t be able to give you any answers. It must just increase anxiety. I never joined a cancer forum till I had cancer, and would never have thought of looking on a cancer forum for my issues. That saved me countless potential hours of worry, and I never looked on google. So,it’s difficult for me to understand why people would search online for answers, when the only true answers will come from a doctor and a diagnosis. Can you try to stop yourself searching for answers until you see the doctor? x

I really do need to stop you are right and I know I have an appointment but 10 days seems so far away.

the lower back pain and missed periods is just a worry for me

its 4:27 now and I'm awake with anxiety 

Every day seems like an age when you are waiting for an appointment, but 10 says really is not that long. Even people with cancer have to wait for appointments and tests, and you don’t actually know what is wrong yet. Hopefully it will be much less serious that that. 

If you can stop trawling the internet it would definitely reduce your anxiety levels. Whatever is wrong, you can’t change or influence it by worrying or trying to diagnose yourself. I know it must be difficult for you, but try to distract yourself with other things while you wait. x

Another sleepless night.

the pain has moved abit and seems my left hip and side is hurting. I'm literally thinking that the Cancer is spreading etc, when I haven't even been seen yet. I think my health anxiety is getting the better of me on this one! 

Hi Kell

I’m sorry you’ve had another sleepless night, as it’s exhausting.

You don’t have cancer until a doctor tells you that you have cancer, but you are definitely suffering from anxiety over your health, which can be debilitating and can make your symptoms seem much worse. 

You can make a choice at this point to keep going on the internet and terrifying yourself, or to try  to stop making assumptions and trying to diagnose yourself by keeping away from dr google. 

When you are diagnosed with cancer a whole new world of terror and anxiety follows-but you are making things so much more difficult for yourself already by obsessing that you have cancer when you don’t know. I can understand anxiety, having suffered from it myself, but I tried to be proactive in managing it by seeking help from my gp and practising relaxation/mindfulness techniques. Perhaps you could try something like this to bring your anxiety levels down. x