Hi Dani

There are lots of gynaecological issues which could explain your symptoms, so it’s way too early to be thinking you won’t be here for your children or thinking of cancer. 

Neither a blood test nor ultrasound are used in diagnosing cervical cancer, and if your doctor has done an internal examination and not referred you to a gynaecologist, then I think he/she hasn’t seen anything of concern on your cervix, and doesn’t suspect cervical cancer.

It sounds more like general tests which might diagnose another gynaecological issue. If there was a suspicion of cancer you would have been referred on the urgent pathway to a gynaecologist.

You can make symptoms match a potential diagnosis, especially if you are using dr google which is definitely not recommended.

I’ve had cervical cancer, and while bleeding and painful sex CAN be symptoms, they can also be symptoms of other conditions which are much less serious. 

It doesn’t sound like cervical cancer, but no-one on here can diagnose you, so try not to let your thoughts run away with themselves and stay away from googling. It’s not really useful to compare symptoms with other people as their outcome might be very different from yours and it’s not really helpful, although I appreciate you are anxious and looking for answers.  

I hope you get your appointments soon and some reassurance about what’s going on. xx

Back pain can be caused by lots of things, and it’s not typically reported as a symptom of cervical cancer in my experience, and I speak to a huge number of women who have had, or have this cancer. 

No appetite could well be because you’re anxious and I understand that if you lost your parents young to cancer. If you’re not eating, that can make you feel faint. 

Prolonged bleeding definitely needs to be investigated, but could at your age be hormonal or connected with contraception. Try not to fixate on cervical cancer.

Are you up to date with smears or have you ever had abnormal cells identified at a smear? xx

Yes smears are all up to date my next one is September. The last one the nurse said there was erosion on my cervix but I had just had a baby then so could have been that. 

I'm hoping it is just nothing it's just so unusual for me I've always been regular and been on the same pill for years my periods only last 5 days.

Thankyou so much for replying to me x

Cervical erosion/ectropion is where the cells which normally grow inside the cervix grow on the outside. This very often can cause bleeding, but is not cancer. 

So it may be that this is what is causing your bleeding, although I would have thought the doctor may have spotted this in an internal exam if that were the case. Try not to worry too much for now if you can. xx

I've got my bloods on Monday and hopefully scans won't be much longer it's just hard not to overthink sometimes.

Thanks for taking your time to reassure me it means so much xx

The doctor didn't mention seeing anything on Tuesday and the last smear was almost 3 years ago so I'm guessing the erosion has gone away x

It can come back...not saying this is what is wrong but it can recur. However if the doctor didn’t see anything then maybe that’s not the case for you. 

I didn’t do the over thinking bit, so it’s harder for me to understand focussing on potentially bad stuff than it is for people who are anxious. My view is that until they tell you a diagnosis of something, there isn’t any point in worrying about it. Whatever it is, and hopefully there is a simple explanation, there is no point in thinking the worst before you know anything. I realise that’s easy for me to say, but it has served me quite while going through cancer twice. xx

I honestly admire your strength I've struggled with health anxiety since my parents passing away and worry so much about my children or husband getting really poorly.

I'm so happy you got through your cancer xxx

Have you thought about trying to get some help for your health anxiety? It’s a very real and very debilitating thing to suffer from and I know it really can impact on your quality of life. It might help you to get some help to deal with this. xx