Hello Laura,

I know this is an old post but I could really do with someone to talk to, I've been for a coloscopy today and the doctor saw what she said was very suspicious with a high risk of it being cancer, she said there was a nasty infection there as well, she sat me down I was in total shock, she did the biopsy and said the cells just fell away, I need mri and ct to see if it has spread, I'm so frightened, the only symptoms I've had is a few spots of blood on the toilet roll, and a bit of pelvic pain , I'm frightened to death x

Hi Dawn, 

I understand that this is a frightening time but you are doing the right thing in taking care of your health. Like Minska said, cervical cancer is treatable. Take it one day, one appointment, and one treatment at a time, if it comes to that. You can do it! Let us know how you do.

Laura xx

Hello Sophie

What an awful way to receive news from your GP! I have never heard of a Stage 2c, as this is not a stage in the standard FIGO guidelines which stage cervical cancer where there is only stage 2a and 2b. Lymphatic involvement is staged at 3c but I cannot even begin to tell you how many women I have seen with this stage who have been very successfully treated with chemorads and are now cancer free! Too many to mention! And I also know many ladies, including a good friend, who had large tumours at diagnosis who are cancer free still, years later, after successful treatment. 

The Pet scan will give the definitive answer for you, but treatment can honestly be very successful. My treatment for 2b was the same and very successful first time round. I was unlucky in that my cancer did recur, but I am not in the majority, and I had further very successful treatment last year. 

I’m so sorry you have such bad pain-I was never given morphine so had to cope with prescription tramadol eventually, but only after my recurrence. The chemoradiation can be tough-well, the radiation in particular- but the good thing is that it is intensive and over in a matter of weeks, usually with very good results. And the pain should go as the treatment progresses. 

If you have any questions about anything, please just ask. Having been through this cancer twice now, I have learned so much and can offer lots of practical tips for treatment side effects etc. 

The very best advice I could give is what you have said yourself- take things one step at a time and don’t look too far ahead. Don’t anticipate problems before they happen, because they might not! Some ladies sail through treatment with no nasty side effects and even manage to keep working. I am older so maybe it hit me harder, but the main thing is that it worked! And I would do it all again if I had to, although that won’t be something that happens for me as I have had all the radiation I can have now.

Please keep in touch and I will help with support for you and Dawn if I can in any way. I know how scary it all is, but am proof you can come through and it can all be ok, even with advanced cancer. xxx

Thank you so much it's a terrible time for both of us it's nice to no at stage 2c they are still treating to cure, good luck on your journey xx

At stages 1-3 they will always be looking to cure. Only stage 4 is classed as incurable, but I know many ladies at stage 4 with no evidence of disease living very full lives. It depends on lots of different factors, so just keep positive that treatment will be very successful. xx

Thank you I was expecting it to be honest it was wishful thinking to think it was infection but *** dosnt make it any easier when you hear those words does it, this forum is a brilliant place thank you all so much for your support xx

I think even if you expect it, it’s still a horrible shock to actually hear the words, and nothing can really prepare you for it. I was relieved in a strange way to have an answer to my pain and bleeding, and right from the beginning I held onto the gynaecologist’s words-“ I am treating you to cure you”. I never forgot that. xx

I feel relieved to have an answer just wish they could have answered All my questions today, the MDT meeting is in the 12th so at least il have a treatment plan, they said they will ring me early next week with ct results xx

I think it’s natural to want to know everything right away and get answers immediately, but it’s a lot to take in, getting a cancer diagnosis, and I found they always wanted to be very sure of every little detail before passing information to me etc. That’s good you’ll get the ct results next week-another thing to tick off the list. xx

Hi Sophia did they see something on your cervix then at coloscopy because that's what's happened to me, the mri and ct scan were being booked as I left the office xx

Hi Dawn,

Yes, she did a cone biopsy (I only found that out yesterday during consultation) and she was honest in saying she was thinks it was likely cancer when I asked her at the time. It was difficult for her to say anything else when the report she saw meant she thought she was looking at a nabothian cyst before she actually performed the colposcopy. That was 22nd September. Had MRI 25th Sept, results from Biopsy & MRI 27th. So cannot fault the time frames the hospital have completed these things in. Just a shame my GP cancelled my smear tests for 6 months of last year when I rang regarding abnormal bleeding. No referral done either to gynae. My sister, who works in the medical field, is confident we would be dealing with the CIN3 had I have had my smear as scheduled last year. But what ifs don't help now. Your treatment plan will bring you positivity. Mines been discussed but I've not actually spoken with the oncologist yet. Will likely be Monday now. I'm up and down at the moment like you wouldn't believe. Message any time if you're panicking and I'll support as much as I can. Xx

@minska thank you for your supportive messages full of kindness and care. I'm very grateful our paths have crossed on this forum because you are an absolute inspiration to every single person in the same position as me right now xxx

Hi Sophie

Thank you for your kind words. Things are moving quickly for you, which is good. You’re right about the “what ifs”- we can beat ourselves up with those words, I know I did initially, but we need to try and put them out of our minds and move forward with what we need to deal with in the present. 

I hope you get to have your discussion with the oncologist on Monday to firm up plans-waiting is so difficult when you just want to get on and get started. Your feelings go up down and all over the place when you’re not in control of what’s happening, but the treatment plan gives back a bit of control to you which is the positive thing. Message me any time or ask any questions you like. Nothing is too personal or too much information for me after what I’ve had done, and I completely get the feelings you will be having. But I think you definitely will have the right attitude to deal with this head on and come out the other side.if I can be there to help and support you through as best I can, I am more than happy to do that for you. xxx

Hi Sophie

Thank you for your kind words. Things are moving quickly for you, which is good. You’re right about the “what ifs”- we can beat ourselves up with those words, I know I did initially, but we need to try and put them out of our minds and move forward with what we need to deal with in the present. 

I hope you get to have your discussion with the oncologist on Monday to firm up plans-waiting is so difficult when you just want to get on and get started. Your feelings go up down and all over the place when you’re not in control of what’s happening, but the treatment plan gives back a bit of control to you which is the positive thing. Message me any time or ask any questions you like. Nothing is too personal or too much information for me after what I’ve had done, and I completely get the feelings you will be having. But I think you definitely will have the right attitude to deal with this head on and come out the other side.if I can be there to help and support you through as best I can, I am more than happy to do that for you. xxx