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Cervical cancer fear...any support/advice deeply appreciated

JoThom
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I've been having bleeding between periods upon wiping and spotting after sex for a couple of months.  I've been sterilised, so definitely not pregnant and have only had sex with 1 person my hubby for 9 years so think I can rule out an sti and I'm not on any contraception.

I have a clear smear 18months ago. Seen gp today who done another smear and had a feel inside and said she didn't feel anything wrong but that there was quite a bit of blood there. She said she is referring to gynaecology for further investigation and a ultra sound to find a source for the bleeding.

I'm 34 with 4 kids and have health anxiety and I'm struggling with the thought of cervical cancer.  Is it possible there is another explanation for this bleeding given my Last smear was normal? 

What can I expect as further investigation by gynaecology? Gp said the wait time is at least a month at the moment on the NHS.

This wait is going to send my anxiety off the chart not knowing what to expect.

Any support or advice would be greatly appreciated.

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    Hi Jo

     

    I made an account just so I can reply to you. I was diagnosed with cervical cancer in November 2020 so I feel I am suitably qualified to reply to you. 

    If there is a suspicion of cancer you will be referred to colposcopy at your nearest hospital where they will insert a camera in to your cervix. If they spot anything in there which concerns them they will either do a lletz (basically an electonic tennis racket shaped device which "sweeps" a sample of cells) or they will do a cone biopsy (basically they cut out a chunk of tissue). This will go off to be tested. 

    It's important to note that I didn't have any symptoms of cancer. Mine was discovered following a routine smear which showed I had severe and high grade cells changes. I've has both a lletz nand a cone biopsy and eventually had a hysterectomy in March 2022 taking everything except for ovaries. I am now having investigatory work completed to see if I have ovarian cancer as a recent scan has show a cyst which is bleeding. 

    You may have a harmless cyst which has ruptured. Have you ever had endometriosis? I believe thatg can cause bleeding?

     

  • Offline in reply to Nikzy911

    Thankyou so much for taking the time to respond to me.  I don't have endometriosis that I'm aware of. My light bleeding has now turned heavier but much lighter than my periods normally are. I usually need to take transexamic acid to help with the heavy flow. So I'm not sure if this is a period I'm very confused.  Did you have normal smears prior to this abnormal one? 

  • Offline in reply to JoThom

    Hi Jo

    My history was a bit chequered.

    I had normal smear, followed by a slightly unusual one, followed by a normal one, then the really abnormal one. I'm 38 with no children. 

    I'd had really  bleeding after sex but the man I was with at the time was cheating left right and centre and regrettably gave me an STI so I'm not sure if the bleeding was due to that or an early sign of the cancer. I was also on the implat so that stopped my periods so it was rare for me to bleed. I only really did after sex. 

    I know it's difficult but try to remain positive and keep pushing the Drs. I found I was "forgotten" about quite frequently (I accept that my diagnosis and treatment took me through the pandemic but even so, I had to do a lot of chasing). 

     

    if you have any other questions, let me know and I'll do my best to answer. 

     

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