hello, i called my gp today book my routine smear, i had cervical cancer which has now travelled to my lung, i'm totally cancer free in my cervix yet they told me i'm not able to have a smear? is this correct?
Thank you for posting a question. I am sorry to learn that you have cervical cancer which has spread to your lungs.
I don't know the full details of your situation, so this makes it difficult to answer your question. But I assume that you have had treatment for the cancer in your cervix. If you still have your cervix, I think that the treatment may have included radiotherapy. After radiotherapy treatment cervical screening (the smear test) is not done. This is because the radiotherapy can change the cervical cells and this can make them look abnormal when they aren't . So the test is not particularly reliable post radiotherapy.
I can appreciate why you would like to have cervical screening, because I would imagine that you might like to know what is happening in your cervix. But to be honest I am unsure how useful this would be, as screening is aimed at preventing cervical cancer and unfortunately you already have it . So the results might not change how you are treated
Please get back to us if you have any other questions. If you would like to telephone the number to call is Freephone 0808 800 4040 and the lines are open from 9am till 5pm Monday to Friday.
