Cervical Cancer

Hello -

I was diagnosed with stage 2A cervical cancer 3 years ago.  I had 26 rounds of external and 6 rounds of internal radiation along with chemo.  Due to a bleeding event prior to my diagnosis I was not able to have surgery. I know how scary a diagnosis can be, the treatments,waiting for results,  the recovery.  If anyone would like to ask me questions about my experiences, please do so. Obviously everyone's cancer is different and only doctor can give medical advice,  but sometimes it helps to talk to someone who's been through it.

Prayers to all that are facing this disease.

Laura P.

Parents
  • Hi Laura. 

    I keep seeing replies from you on many posts. It's very reassuring.

    I am 26, I have two children 9 and 5. My periods have always been weird due to being on the implant. But I think in December it lasted a few days longer than normal. Fast forward to this month, I had my period as normal. It lasted around 10 days which is normal, then 4 days later I started bleeding again and bled for a week. Classed as spotting as it was never enough to wear a pad or anything. I phone my GP, explained everything and she didn't seem too worried. She booked me in for my first smear (haven't had one due to Covid) and also said she'd take some swabs 'to be on the safe side' (don't know what they're for?) 

    Since speaking to her I've noticed I have lower back pain in a morning which eases off throughout the day. I have groin pain pretty much constantly, it's just a dull ache and I also noticed I had stomach cramps the day after having sex. Te cramps were pretty painful. They eased off in the evening. 

    I don't have any smelly discharge, no bleeding during or after sex, no bloating, I'm not off my food and I don't think I've noticed any changes in bowel movement either.. 

     

    Just looking for some reassurance really. My smear is booked for 10th March but I'm ringing to ask if they can bring it forward. I'm due on on the 10th march and all this worry is really affecting me. 

  • Hi, sorry I didn't see your post until now! I hope you are doing well and you've found out what is going on. At your young age I wouldn't think your issues would be cancer related but it is always good to follow up and keep tabs on things.  Please message me if you need to. 

    Laura xx

     

  • I had yellow discharge that now is bloody but has no smell to it, did you have pain in your vagina at all, I bleed after sex in between periods even though I am on the pill pelvic pain not all the time, inflamed cervix, pain down below , I also only got these symptoms when I started sleeping with new boyfriend, doctor said that could be coinsidental, I feel sick with worry  Laura thank you for support what were all the symptoms you had if you don't mi d me asking 

  • I don't mind you asking. I didn't have pain during sex but did have occasional bleeding. I had waited so long to go to the doctor I am not sure what my cervix looked like. I didn't have pain until a week/days before my diagnosis, and then it was quite bad, lower right side, groin area. I had night sweats/couldn't sleep, was incredibly tired and could not walk very far at all without becoming exhausted.I kind of had a pressure or a cramping feeling all the time, too, that made me thing my period was going to start, but it never did, at the end.  One thing I remember is that when I finally did go to the doctor and she looked at my cervix, she said she was 99% sure it was cancer. I should also mention that I was 48 at the time, so pre-menopausal, I guess. Just keep following up with all your appointments, maybe see a counselor to help with the fear/health anxieties. Let me know how you are doing.

    Laura xx

  • Hi Laura,

    I hope you don't mind me messaging you but of all the experiences on here yours resonated with me the most.

    I basically have the symptoms you are describing, I am literally out of my mind with worry and anxiety and wondering how I can muster up the strength to deal with what's around the corner.

    I have been told by my GP via a phone appointment that my symptoms are heavy menopause bleeding, I tried to explain to her that I feel awful, have no energy, fatigue is off the chart etc. I also have low lying pelvic pain and a burning, stinging sensation.

    I went to the surgery yesterday for a smear test and insisted that I be booked in for a full vaginal examination. Will the GP be able to see anything sinister at this appointment do you think. The nurse yesterday said she couldn't see anything.

    I just feel so wretched, crazy where your mind takes you. Feel I have let my son down as he is extremely scared as well.

    Thank you for listening, any advice or support you can give would be so appreciated.

    Hope you are well.

    Thank you,

    Sam

     

  • Hi Sam,

    So sorry for the delay in responding. I think that you are doing the right thing getting checked out, that is the only way to put the worries to rest. If it is something, you are on your way to getting through it and if not, you can relax and deal with your symptoms. My doctor was able to see the tumor when she did a pelvic exam/colposcopy. She told me then that she was 99 percent sure it was cancer. However, everyone is different and unfortunatley our "symptoms" can be from other causes. So, we have to follow up, get the tests and go from there. Try to take it one appointment at a time, stay off google and if you need to talk, feel free to message me privately, I hope all goes well.

    Laura xx

  • Did u have a virginal ultersound love 

  • Hi Amanda

    Vaginal ultrasounds are not used to diagnose cervical cancer, so I’ve never had one. Have you got any concerns or are you having an ultrasound for some reason? 

  • Hi 

    I am new to this site, I have read lots of stories on here and can relate to everyone's worries. I am 48 and had a colposcopy 2 weeks ago, they did a biopsy there and then as they noticed 2 lumps on the neck of my womb. I am having lower back pain on both the right & left sides. Have also had some mild pelvic pain. GP did my full blood count last Thursday so am waiting for the results for them too. I am worried and finding it hard having to wait for results:(

    Thanks Jo x

  • Hi Jojo,

    I'm sorry you are going through this right now. Yes, waiting is so hard, try to just focus on one thing at a time if you can. We are here to provide you support and someone to talk to! Please keep us posted on what you find out. 

    Laura xx

  • Hello jo I've just read your post, it's hard waiting for results isn't it? . The ladies on here are so helpful and they will help to calm your fears, I'm so glad I found them, hope everything turns out ok for you 

     

    love dawn xx

Reply Children
  • Hi Dawn,

    Thanks for your reply, yes it is hard feeling anxious but keeping busy with work & the family.

    Can I ask if you don't mind what your story is?

    Thanks Jo x

  • Hi Jo

    Welcome to the forum and Laura’s thread. It’s a very anxious time for you, but hopefully you will find support with us to help you along the way as you navigate this. You are very welcome to join in the chat and ask questions. Obviously we are not medical professionals but can give some advice based on our own experiences. xx

  • Hi no I don't mind at all, about 6 weeks Ago I had a spot of blood  and lower abdominal pain called the doctors because they thought it was a uti as had had the same symptoms in the past, had a 3 day cause of antibiotics, wiped a small amount of blood away a few days later so they had me in for an examination, they could see something on the cervix so I was referred to coloscopy, I had the appointment within a week, the consultant took one look at the cervix and said it looked high risk and booked mri and ct while I was still in the office, I had news on Friday that biopsy came back as cancer, ive had ct don't and have mri on Thursday evening then it goes to the panel on the 12th, I'm just praying it hasn't spread as not many symptoms but until the results are in I'm an absolute wreck xx

  • Hi,

    Oh no so sorry to hear :( sounds similar to how things started for myself. A month ago I started to notice a strong odour, then I started breeding my GP initially treated it as an infection she prescribed me 2 weeks of antibiotics a really strong dose & requested a colposcopy I had that within 2 weeks of being referred. It will be 2 weeks this weds since my biopsy, Dr said results may take 4 to 6 weeks:( I should find out this week about my bloods my GP said if the bloods flag up any abnormalities then she will chase up my biopsy results. 

    How long did you have to wait for your biopsy results?

    I am terrible for googling stuff, but when your waiting it's hard not to look up symptoms and tests. 

    I hope the mri/scan goes ok such a worrying time for you. 

     

    Jo x 

  • Hi jo I had my biopsy on the 14th of September and had the results after chasing them on the 1st of October xx

  • Hi Dawn,

    That wasn't long to wait, but having to chase up results isn't good. How long did you leave it before chasing them up?

    I got my blood results back yesterday and all came back normal, my GP also arranged for me to see a physio about my back pain, saw physio and she doesn't think the pain is muscular, she looked at my lower back and the right and left side when she put pressure on it was painful and tender. Did you experience that kind of pain?

    Jo xx 

  • Good morning jo, glad your bloods came back ok, i havnt had any back pain just odd twinges when I've sat still or lay funny, just pelvic pain and a few spots of blood x

  • Good morning I had my ct last Friday and still havnt been contacted with results, ive tried ringing but the nurses phone keeps going to answer machine, is it normal to wait this long they said a couple of days, will they give me a stage and tell me if it's spread I can't take much more of this worry it's making me ill ! X

  • Morning Dawn

    Mine took around a week to come back. They need all the scan info before deciding on stage, so the mri and ct results need to go to the mdt. If they guess at stage, they might be wrong if they don’t have all the info. For example, initially my gynaecologist said I would have a radical hysterectomy but the scan results meant that wasn’t possible, A couple of days for any scan results would be unlikely in my experience and I’ve had many! The ct should identify any spread, yes, and the mri gives the size and location of tumour. Both of these factors have a big impact on what treatment will be done, so I’m afraid you will just have to hang in there for now. If worry is making you ill, have you tried any methods of reducing your anxiety while you wait? xx

  • Hi Minska I've been on escitalopram for about 4 years with anxiety and panic attacks, they do help but this is a whole new level of worry, thanks for the information not long to wait now I suppose the MDT meeting is on Tuesday xx