Hi Mandy 

Firstly a hug - this is a worrying letter to receive and in the middle of Covid even more so.  
 

Secondly, don't panic!  Which is an awful lot easier to type than do.  I know from recent experience the stresses of waiting for a test result when you've had something out of the blue.  
 

What you're now on is the start of a journey to investigate something which may - or may not - be a problem.  I'm not going to give you theories about what might or might not be the issue as I'm not a medic.  All I can do is share my experience to try to reassure you that you should ultimately be fine :-)

A few years ago I had a dodgy smear, then a colposcopy which identified changes to the cells in my cervix as CIN3.  Essentially these are cells which, left untreated, would join up together to form a malignant tumour.  The cell changes in the cervix are usually caused by HPV - a virus which girls in secondary school are now vaccinated against.

I then had a Letz Loop Incision - effectively my cervix was hot wired!  A bit uncomfortable and undignified but what it does is remove a thin layer of your cervix including all the naughty cells.  This means they can't join up and make a cancer conga.

I've had smears since and I'm absolutely fine - it's one of those things which if they catch early stops something from being a problem before it starts.

The things is, you just don't know yet how far down the path you are.  Try to use the time before your appointment to think of questions you'd like to ask and write them down.  It might be nothing or it might be something and the balance of probabilities is definitely on your side.  But I know full well that the waiting is sometimes the worst part.

Anothet hug to finish - keep your chin up, use the waiting time constructively and very best wishes for whatever journey is ahead.

Take care

Zoe

My appointment is now 20 weeks but might be extended again... I'm tempted to go private as I'm scared to wait, do they know what grade you are with a smear test. I think anxiety high as I know someone who missed out due to covid and now has an aggressive form of cervical cancer... X

I understand ive been there, it gets a hold of you. You have borderline changes so im sire you will be fine, the screening process is great, i just want tested at the the time i should be tested thats what worries me. A morbid thought but if its not a colposcopy it'll be something else we will all get older and things going wrong with our bodies. We need to try and live in the now and enjoy life. I do understand anxiety though i live with it every day, its a battle... Need to keep fighting though nothing else for it x

reading through your earlier posts, you have the same changes as me? x

Yes borderline changes with high risk hpv... Ive had 2 colposcopys before once they took i biopsy. It is a worry, but try and look after yourself because stress will make you ill aswell. Im going to chase my appointment and see whwre the land lies, if its going to be alit longer i might consider going private. Xx the screening process is there to check and double check which is fantastic. The waiting times for anything because of covid is horrible and should never have happened, the backlog will stress the nhs x

I have just spoken to my gp who reassured me that even high grade changes on smear dont mean the C word.

Im just so drained by it all and the waiting is just the worst, no idea how youve waited this long and be as sane x

Anxiety sure does zap your energy, im going to have a think what to do this week. I have 2 teenage daughters around me i need to hold myself together for them. I really hope all women get there appointments asap x

My app is wed at 130. Dreading it but cant wait for it to be over for some clarity at least x

Dont dread it, look forward to it as your dealing with your health and it'll put your mind at rest, good luck, try and relax x

thank you 

Hi how did you get on today with colposcopy x

Im okay thank you.

Had the proceedure, when she put the dye on no cells showed up so no need for a biopsy 

She said no evidence of pre cancerous cells and happy to discharge. She said she would be happy for me to have 3 yearly smears bu agreed to 12 when i said id rather keep an eye on it. xxxx

Im okay thank you.

Had the proceedure, when she put the dye on no cells showed up so no need for a biopsy 

She said no evidence of pre cancerous cells and happy to discharge. She said she would be happy for me to have 3 yearly smears bu agreed to 12 when i said id rather keep an eye on it. xxxx

Good news 

when is yours xx

Was the hpv still present 

Did you go private 

It's in June 

Yeah I went private for mine xx