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

Was the hpv still present 

Did you go private 

It's in June 

Yeah I went private for mine xx

Hi I am going through the same process had a biopsy last week and waiting for the results I am so anxious. I keep thinking about the c word and my young family. 

The lady said to me today that biopsies are taken if they can see areas of change, even tiny ones, just so they can decide on what type of treatment if any to give.

i feel you 100%. ive been beside myself and suffering from health anxiety only made this a million times worse for me xx

It’s strange because I had pains in my side for weeks thinking that this maybe related but I am not sure whether that is even a connection. My mind is doing over time and I am over thinking believing there is something wrong with my body. But generally I am healthy it’s just hard waiting.

You sound so much like me. the mind does crazy  things to us. ive felt like ive been in a bubble and can see everyone outside it but ive been stuck inside.

what did they say at colposcopy? x

I was told that my smear did not match up with colposcopy and she took a biopsy to check she did reassure me but I was not convinced. The messages seen on this platform has been really helpful. I am trying to remind myself that it is a process and that it is good that I am getting checked out. I think the whole c 19 has made me so health conscious I am trying to remain positive but it’s hard.

of course it is. thats why i had to go private because i couldn't deal with the what if. if they reassured you then id think that was a positive thing.

how long till results 

of course it is. thats why i had to go private because i couldn't deal with the what if. if they reassured you then id think that was a positive thing.

how long till results 

2 weeks today has already been 1 week so going private was your process quicker?

yeah i had my smear results last thur amd had my colposcopy today, so 6 days.x

Ok I hope it goes well for all of us. I will provide an update to the chat when I get my results. I am trying to keep myself busy as a distraction. X 

Got everything crossed for you xxxx

Thanks x keep in touch xxx