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

     

  • 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

  • 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 

Reply
  • 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 

Children
  • 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

  • Hi Dawn

    I was put on sertraline at my very first gp appointment at the start of this because I was suffering from anxiety and panic attacks before I even knew I had cancer and think it did help. I also did deep breathing to calm myself, and used the Headspace phone app for mindfulness and living in the moment. Very useful. 

    Hopefully you will hear quickly after the MDT. I had a face to face appointment to discuss stage and treatment, and was able (pre covid) to have my partner with me, which was invaluable for picking up on things that were said. It can all be a lot to take in. But once stage and treatment plan are established, things will start to move along much quicker. xx

  • Hi Minska the nurse has just called me from the hospital no results as yet but said some doctors like to have all the scan results in front of them before giving out information, I asked if she thought I could be treated she said they were optimistic I could and that lots of women respond well to treatment which had calmed me down a little x

  • Hi Dawn

    They really do need all the scan information to make a treatment decision, as without everything the picture is incomplete. And the treatment does vary considerably depending on stage, although treatment for each stage is pretty much standard. For example, they wouldn’t want to assume on the basis of limited information that surgery would be possible when it might not be, and would cause more issues than it would solve. Lots of women do respond very well, and it’s good that the nurse was optimistic.xx

  • My case went to the panel yesterday for discussion, I can't get it out of my head that they are going to tell me I'm not going to make it, has anyone else had hardly any symptoms apart from a few spots of blood and very bad looking cervix to being told there is nothing they can do x

  • Dawn, advanced cervical cancer gives a lot more symptoms than an infection in the cervix and a few spots of bood-honestly.  It is always a possibility with cancer that it cannot be cured completely, but you should really try to stop thinking you’re not going to make it, when you don’t even know what the treatment will be. I’m concerned that you are so negative already this will have a very bad impact on whatever they tell you from the MDT meeting, and trying to stay positive is a crucial factor in dealing with the challenges of both cancer and its treatment. 

    I had a large-ish tumour, visible to the naked eye on examination, but I refused to let myself think I wouldn’t make it. And I’m still here! There is always treatment, from surgery to palliative care depending on stage. Always. xx

  • Hello can anyone tell me how long you waited to be contacted after MDT meeting, mine was on Tuesday and still nothing, i rang the specialist nurses today and left a message they didn't get back in touch x