Hi 

I'm in my fiftys, and after a smear about 3 years ago I had abnormal cells plus hpv, I couldn't believe it, I had been in relationship about 3 years, I had letzz treatment done which got rid of the abnormal cells thank god. I started to take ginsing supplements as its supposed to help the body plus your body can fight off the hpv itself given time, which is what happened to me latest smear was hpv negative so don't worry, it can clear up. X

Thank you so much that been encouraging to me x

Ive tried everything, councelling and CBT. nothing has worked. i dont have a generalised anxiety probelm, or health anxiety even, its just the C word after watching a loved one lose their battle.

I cant see anything right now other than possible C, bad news on wed and a lifetime of being messed about with and the prospect of it becoming something.

i really am in such a mess and suffering panic attacks which ive never had when i wake up x

Oh, I’m so sorry to hear that nothing has helped you. I have found both medication and counselling very helpful for my anxiety. If you have borderline cell changes, it would be extremely unlikely for this to turn out to be cancer. The odds are hugely in your favour of this being something easily treatable. 

I know how you feel but try not to worry easier said than done because I also am an awful worrier but my friend has just tested negative at the age of 61 but last year her result was hpv positive so this is encouraging x

Thank you both.

I feel like im just stuck in a bubble right now. Everything and everyone is moving around outside just the same and I'm stuck inside, frozen with dread.

i have even paid private to have my colposcopy done. i didnt get my smear results until thur and im booked in wed for my colp.

I had a colposcopy 6 years ago for something unrelated. I cant believe HPV wasnt picked up then and i havent been monitored more closely since. i know smears havent long been testing for HPV but surely a colposcopy and biopsy should have picked it up 6 years ago.

nothing makes sense right now 

If they didn’t test for HPV specifically, there would have been no way to know you had it. Even if they had tested for it, if the virus was in a dormant phase the test would have produced a negative result. 

smear was clear two years ago. im worried about how fast its started at alter my cells in that case x

I have been stuck in that bubble and still am so I know how you feel the worry has overtaken my life I think I know where mine came from but that's another story it's encouraging to read Minskas comments and this lady has put it into prospectus and I have spoken to many medical professionals about this but I think we have no choice other than to try and keep positive about this for both our sakes xx

 You had no abnormal cells then, and typically abnormalities progress slowly. It is likely that on the basis of a borderline result the changes now are very minor. 

just awful isnt it.

it doesnt matter what anyone says to me.

its like having a phobia of snakes and being told next week, were going to lock you in a room with loads of them. some of them may bite you, some of them may not. but just try and relax over it.

thats the only way i can explain how it feels.

are you still waiting for your colposcopy?

You are right AJD. Keeping positive is hugely helpful, and personally I find it pointless to worrying about something which hasn’t happened. But I guess it’s just experience that has taught me that! 

You are right AJD. Keeping positive is hugely helpful, and personally I find it pointless to worrying about something which hasn’t happened. But I guess it’s just experience that has taught me that! 

I understand where the lady is coming from but I have got tired of worrying about the same thing I am just trying to eat healthily and listen to the positive advice and information I have been given and your advice also is like a breath of fresh air x

Your attitude is really good! I understand worry, been there done that myself of course, but it just makes things worse. There’s so much to be positive about, and feel very hopeful about. I’m sad I wasn’t able to provide any reassurance at all to the other lady, but was only trying to speak from my own knowledge and experiences and the countless good results I’ve seen from early detection of abnormalities. x

That's so encouraging and thanks let's all keep talking on this chat from time to time and help each other along the way xx

I’ve just come back on the forum after a long break, but hoped to be able to help out if I could. I’m happy to keep chatting, though I’m not waiting for treatment. I just have a lot of prior experiences to draw on. x

Hi Minska can I ask do you still test positive for hpv or is your immune system able to fight it x

I’ve never been told I tested positive for HPV, since I went straight to a diagnosis of cervical cancer and it became a bit irrelevant! But since it was adenocarcinoma I had, I know I had HPV, probably still do but I don’t get smear tests now so I’ll never be certain if that’s the case!

Oh I understand that must have been an awful shock for you are you alright now? 

Yes thank you, it was quite a long time ago now. 

Oh I am glad you're well you have been very brave x

Thank you. I’ve been through this cancer twice now and had quite a lot of treatment.x