Hi worriedbetty.

I’m sorry to see you’re so worried, but hope I can add some perspective as someone who has had cervical cancer twice now. 

It’s very common to have an hpv positive result-most of the sexually active population has come into contact with the virus at some point in their lives. It can go dormant and produce a negative result at another test but once you have hpv, you have it always in your body. 

Borderline changes are the lowest grade of cell changes, and are not cancer, and having hpv and borderline changes should not cause pain. There are many strains of hpv and the strains which are high risk for cell changes are not the same as those which cause genital warts, so the warts have no connection with cervical cancer. The colposcopy will be an appointment to look closely at your cervix and perhaps take biopsies if necessary. Biopsies may not be necessary depending on what they see, but borderline changes are the lowest type of cell changes so you may just be monitored.

Pain in the upper left abdomen does not suggest cervical cancer-pain would be expected in the pelvic area. 

Although I am not a medic, on balance I would suggest that you do not have cervical cancer, based on what you’ve said, my own experience and speaking to dozens of women who have this cancer. 

I hope you don’t have long to wait for your colposcopy and that it puts your mind at rest. Please let us know how you get on, and if you want to talk or have any questions I’ll be happy to try and help if I can. x

Thank you so much for replying to my message I really appreciate it.

I have a couple more questions, once a person has HPV is there no way of getting rid of it? not even through diets/ supplements?

I know this is a silly question, but the genital warts strain of HPV is why I tested positive right? but what about the bleeding? as that is supposed to be a key indicator of cervical cancer?

Thanks so much you've really helped calm me down, the information online is overwhelming and so much of it frightens me. I don't know if and when I will have a colposcopy so the waiting game is rather torturos.

Hi Minska,

You are a beacon of light truly, because I don't think you will ever understand how much you have helped me. I am trying not to worry so much, but it is really hard. I appreciate you sharing your story and feedback because it really helps.

I am trying to keep myself occupied on boosting my immune system, because this diagnosis is a real wake up call. My diet has been pretty bad and I have always been prone to colds so I know I am not strong. 

I am hoping the abormal bleeding in between my periods that I have been having is not as sinister as I am thinking, but I will try and be positive. Thank you xx

Hi worriedbetty

Thank you for your kindness. You can definitely help your immune system by eating healthily and exercising-it’s all good for you. 

I’m glad I was able to help a little, and always happy to chat if you need a friendly ear. I’ve learned a lot in these past couple of years and been through a lot so I’ve had plenty experience I try to share if others are unsure about things or struggling.

Hopefully there will be a straightforward answer to your issues which isn’t anything nasty or serious. xx

Hi there, I'm back to say that I have been lucky to get a colposcopy appointment this week. I am really nervous about what they will say as I am genuinely terrified. I'm trying not to scare myself but it is really hard not to.

I'm still having the weird abdomen cramps and pain on my left side only, I find that I feel sick and full very quickly even after not eating very much and I am trying to not let my mind go into overdrive that if I have CC it has spread to my stomach.

I went to the A&E a couple of times to see if I could find out the source of my pain but the ultrasound showed nothing. Please keep me in your thoughts as I am trying my best to keep calm :)

Hi Betty, thank you for keeping in touch and I’m glad you’ve got your appointment arranged: not long to wait now. 

I appreciate its scary..fear of the unknown always is, but I found I coped much better once I knew what was going on and how it would be treated. I hope you don’t mind me saying, but it seems that the borderline cell change result has focused your mind on cervical cancer although your symptoms don’t really sound like the disease at all. Cervical cancer pain tends to focus in the pelvic area/groin, not the abdomen, and ladies report hip and leg pain, loss of bladder control, back pain amongst other things.  Left hand side abdominal pain sounds much more like something bowel related although I’m only going on my own experience and that of others and I have no medical knowledge. But I have had cervical cancer twice! 

If you had advanced cervical cancer, I would expect that something may well have been spotted during a smear test. For example, my tumour was just under 4cm and was clearly visible to the naked eye, both for the gp and the gynaecologist. And mine had not spread. Your ultrasound was clear. Borderline changes are pre cancerous changes to the cervical cells, not cancer, and they are the lowest level of cell changes-which can be easily treated. But borderline cell changes are not typically accompanied by pain. They would usually have no symptoms at all. It all makes me think there is another explanation for your symptoms, but until you have your procedure you won’t know and it’s like going down a rabbit hole trying to diagnose yourself from the internet and doctor google. 

I cant say don’t worry, because I know you will not be able to avoid worrying, but I genuinely don’t believe you have advanced cervical cancer which has spread to your stomach on the basis of what you have said. I’ll keep you in my thoughts this week and wait for your update after the colposcopy, which I hope gives you the best possible results. xx

Minska, you are honestly a gem. You truly do know how to calm me down, and I thank you for that.

I am so worried, but I will try to calm down - this has been a whirlwind but I shall keep you posted on how I get on after my appointment. I truly hope that you are right in my case and I am crossing my fingers. Thank you once again and I hope that you have a lovely remainder to your week xx

Hi Betty

You are right about it being a whirlwind, because it can be so hard waiting for tests and results. It seems strange now, but when I was undergoing tests and waiting for results I never actually considered I had cancer, so I felt pretty calm. I always thought there would be a simple explanation. Turns out I was wrong, but I was very calm when I was told I actually did have cervical cancer. My first thought was ok..but can you treat it. When I was told the aim was a cure, I focused all my energy on those words, and repeated them to myself every single day. A positive mindset was hugely important to me, and has been in all the treatment i’ve been through since. 

I’ve had plenty down days where dark thoughts crept in, but worry sucks the enjoyment out of being in the present, and ultimately worry changes nothing. I’ve learned that lesson over the past couple of years. Mindfullness helps-focusing on the present, deep breathing and making yourself be calm. Visualisation techniques also helped me, particularly when going through radiotherapy-picturing in my mind those invisible rays blasting away my tumour. Always repeating under my breath I will be well, I will be cured. 

I hope that its nothing as serious as cancer for you..keep thinking positively while you are in this period of the unknown if you can. The sun is shining here today, I can hear the birds and I feel really well. I try to appreciate every single day and live in the now. Let me know how you get on-I’ll be thinking of you and am sending positive thoughts. x

Hi Minska,

Thank you, your positivity shines through and I receive it. I appreciate your optimism as I know that I am a naturally half empty type of person. I will try and keep positive thoughts throughtout no matter what it is that I am told and shall try and take it from there. I have not told anyone i know what I am going through so I think this is where my mind goes into overdrive but I am lucky that you reply back to me.

I will keep you posted on how I get on.

Thank you so much

Hi Betty

It’s very difficult to deal with things alone..I’m sorry You haven’t been able to talk things through with anyone, although sometimes, bizarrely, it’s easier to talk to a stranger. I’m normally a glass half empty type myself, and a panicky kind of person but since all this started for me my mindset has shifted to the glass half full version! Strange but good!  

I’ve met some lovely people online and in person throughout treatment and surgery etc, who helped me immensely with advice and support. Nowadays I try to pay that back by helping others if I can. So I will always respond, and admit when I don’t know the answer! I don’t guess anything, I’m not medically qualified, but I have a lot of personal experience of what having my particular cancer is like, and the treatments and feelings involved. I am keeping everything crossed for you! xx

Thank you for your kind words Minska, I thought I should tell you how things went.

I had my colposcopy and was told my cervix looked absolutely fine, which I suppose is somewhat good news but does not give me any answers about the symptoms I am having. The next day I went for a bike ride and within hours started spotting again, and the spotting lasted for a few days. Plus the abdominal pain is still lingering around - so I may have to have a colonoscopy because I feel like something has either torn or ruptured in my upper abdomen. I am not sure if they are going to do a biopsy to be sure, as I was so emotional throughout the colposcopy that I cannot really remember it all. 

I feel like I have made two steps forward and yet have taken two steps back :(

I hope that you are keeping well xx

Hi, 

Sorry to jump onto your post but Im so worried to. I'm almost 29 and for the past week or two I've had bloating, bad stomach cramps (like period pain) and lower back ache. 
 

I have a friend who has very recently passed away from cervical cancer and I've driven myself crazy and along with google have diagnosed myself. I'm really in a mess, I can't concentrate at school and I've spoken to my partner about how things will be with the children if I die. 
 

My mind has completely run away with me, I have a smear test booked for 22nd July and the doctors can't see me until then. If anyone can give me a little bit of reassurance just so I can switch my mind off for two minutes I'd be so grateful. 
 

thank you xx 

Hi, 

Sorry to jump onto your post but Im so worried to. I'm almost 29 and for the past week or two I've had bloating, bad stomach cramps (like period pain) and lower back ache. 
 

I have a friend who has very recently passed away from cervical cancer and I've driven myself crazy and along with google have diagnosed myself. I'm really in a mess, I can't concentrate at school and I've spoken to my partner about how things will be with the children if I die. 
 

My mind has completely run away with me, I have a smear test booked for 22nd July and the doctors can't see me until then. If anyone can give me a little bit of reassurance just so I can switch my mind off for two minutes I'd be so grateful. 
 

thank you xx 

Hey there, 

Don't despair, I completely understand how you feel. Just to make a distinction where is your stomach pain - my stomach pain is in the upper abdomen area?

Thanks for replying! Mine is lower, like period cramps. If I hadn't had a period 2 weeks ago I would have thought I was about to start, that's how it feels. 
 

currently sat upstairs and can't face going downstairs to the other half and kids, I feel so guilty because there's people actually going through this in reality and I'm a state without even knowing anything!

Hey there,

I think that having lower abdominal cramps is relatively normal, I'm no doctor but on the basis of just that alone I would really try not to worry.

You're doing the right thing by having a smear test and hopefully that should put your mind at rest but in the meantime please please stay off of google, keep an eye on your symptoms and reach out to your doctor if it gets worse but don't worry yourself too much as google is very misleading.