Hi Casey

Have you been referred on the 2 week pathway do you know? If so, the wait should not be long. 

I appreciate it’s an anxious time but it can be extra worrying trying to second guess what might be wrong, and trying to compare yourself to others who may have had similar symptoms but a completely different explanation for them. Cervical polyps are usually benign, cervical erosion is a common cause of bleeding, and having CIN3 doesn’t mean you will get cancer. There are many explanations for bleeding and discharge which are nowhere near as serious as cancer, but until you see a gynaecologist it’s impossible to say. You are more likely to fuel your anxiety looking on a cancer forum for explanations. You had a negative hpv result not too long ago, which I would take comfort from as cervical cancer is usually slow growing.

I hope you are seen soon, and get answers, but meanwhile you should try and look after yourself and try not to be consumed by fear when you don’t yet know what’s wrong. 

Hi [@Minska]‍ 

thank you so much for your reply I really do appreciate it. I can eat or sleep and I'm in such a mess. 
I think my anxiety is also fulled by the fact I lost my auntie a week ago to breast cancer and she was my breast friend so I'm currently grieving:(.

yes my gp has referred me on a 2 week referral pathway. I've got a telephone app with a gynaecologist on Monday, but not sure what good a telephone call will be unless they expect me to get my phone camera down there . I'm expecting on Monday I will be booked in for further investigation so more waiting.

it like he'll isn't it. I think not knowing is the absolute worst feeling. 
yes the negated HPV last year gives me bit of comfort, but Ive come across people with negative HPV who have cancer. 
I've been looking into whether I could get a loan to go private to see if it's any quicker to put me out of my misery but seems silly getting in lots of debt maybe? I'm just making myself so poorly with the worry and trying to grieve at the same time. Thank you again for taking the time to reply I really do appreciate it and it helps to talk to someone who has same/similar experiences x

Hi Casey

I'm so sorry you’re having all this worry when you’re grieving for your auntie-that must make things extremely hard for you. 

To have cervical cancer without having hpv is extremely rare and would be a very rare type of cervical cancer-only a tiny, tiny percentage of ladies have the cancer without hpv, and the vast majority of the common types of cervical cancer( there are a number of different types of cervical cancer) are caused by hpv. 

However, it’s important to remember that if you have hpv, you will always have it. It’s possible for you to clear the virus and for it to be dormant and not causing any issues but it can then go into an “active” phase which is when abnormal cell changes can occur. That’s why regular cervical screening is so important. Having hpv doesn’t mean you are automatically going to have abnormal cells at any point, far less cancer, and many people carry the virus without ever knowing. 

I would personally NOT go private. It may not be any quicker than the NHS and it’s highly likely you would see someone who works some of the time in the NHS and some of the time in the private sector anyway. You’re referred on the pathway which means you will be seen quickly if they feel this is required after the telephone consultation, and if there is anything which requires further treatment, this will also happen quickly. 

The telephone call will be to assess the symptoms which you describe to them, and on that basis further arrangements will be made for an examination. I don’t think any of it will involve your camera phone! Typically they will ask you to describe what’s going on, how long it’s been happening, perhaps your family history. I would write down in advance as precise a description as possible of your symptoms and anything else you may be experiencing even if you do not think it’s related..eg back or leg pain, bloating, urge to urinate etc. You may of course not be experiencing any of these other things but I’m just trying to cover all bases here! x

Thank you for your response. i appreciate your reassuring words.

i suffer with boating/wind daily, and have been told I have ibs (no investigative work done for this diagnosis). I didn't realise this was a symptom of cervical cancer so concerns me they have misdiagnosed ibs. I also have urge to urinate all the time as I have a condition called interstitial cystitis. So they prob won't help. 
I went through every detail with my gp who wrote it up along with her findings to say my cervix was bleeding and bumpy, so just frustrating I've had to wait 4 days for a telephone app, to go through stuff I've already told my gp and will then no doubt have more waiting to actually get any answers/diagnosis .

thank you for the information on HPV that's reassuring to know. So appreciate you telling me that. I had some swobs done too and left me really sore and withr cramping pain :(. I'm arranging my aunties funeral too, so really struggling to cope at the min. All my family are panicking and thinking the worst (prob coz we're so focused on cancer) after recently losing my auntie after a 7 year battle. 
i hope you are ok, have you finished treatment? I really appreciate you chatting with me by the way, so thank you xx

Hi Casey

I’m not sure that bloating/wind is actually a symptom of cervical cancer-i was just trying to think of all sorts of things which may be symptomatic of something in that area-not necessarily cancer. I would mention that you have a diagnosis of interstitial cystitis. Remember that you’ll be speaking to a gynaecologist rather than a gp who doesn’t necessarily have any specialist experience in gynaecology. It’s best to mention everything you can think of, as you do want an appointment where you can be physically examined.

I’m  sorry this has all worried your family so much, but there is no point in panicking and thinking the worst when you don’t know anything yet. You can’t change anything by worrying, and it just makes life unbearable to be in panic mode all the time. I do appreciate that your personal circumstances make it very difficult to take that advice on board however.

I’ve had cervical cancer twice in less than 2 years and lots of treatment along with recent major surgery which was extremely successful. My cancer was all removed and I’m recovering very well, so no more treatment required for now. I feel very well indeed thank you. Happy to chat any time if I can help. xx

Hi

thank you again for you reply. I feel like you completely understand and I appreciate that. 
I an sorry to hear you have had cervical cancer twice, I can only imagine how tough that had been for you, but amazing news you have finished treatment and doing well. That's reassuring to know that cancer doesn't necessarily mean the worst. Was yours picked up through a routine smear test or due to symptoms? 
I just wish I had bit of a rest from worrying. The odd hours sleep I've had I've dreamt I had cancer so no escape from the worry or anxiety. But I will do my best to try and calm down, until I know more. Xx

Casey, I’m so sorry you are so worried. I never thought I had cancer so didn’t have the same feelings and I didn’t spend the time between tests and diagnosis worrying. I always thought there would be a simple explanation, despite being on the 2 week pathway after visiting my gp. 

I went to the gp with unexplained bleeding (post menopausal) which is always taken very seriously by gps. But it’s likely my cancer might not have been picked up on a smear as I was diagnosed with adenocarcinoma which is rarer than the usual squamous cell cancer and can “hide” higher up in the cervical canal. In the event, my tumour was visible to the gp and gynaecologist on examination. 

What I can say is that even a cervical cancer diagnosis doesn’t mean it can’t be treated! Not that I think you have cervical cancer, but the treatment is typically short term and extremely successful. I was unlucky, but I wasn’t able to complete my first round of treatment due to a pulmonary embolism, so I am far from a typical case. I can’t tell you how many ladies I interact with who have had one round of treatment and been fine. It is tough treatment, but can be completed with very successful outcomes. But please don’t assume you have cancer until you complete your investigations. xx

Hi

how are you? I've got my app through for the 16 July. Bit of a wait but at least it's booked in. My bleeding/discharge has Randomly stopped 

Hi Casey

I'm glad you’ve got a date. It’s not too long away but probably feels like an eternity. Glad too that the bleeding has stopped. It’s always worrying to be bleeding when you shouldn’t be. But soon you’ll have answers and that will hopefully put your mind at rest. xx

Thank you x

got my letter through and doesn't really say much. I thought from my telephone appointment I'd be having a colposcopy, but letter just says an appointment with Gynaecologist. I rang the doctors secretary and she was bit useless. Said all she can see is my app is booked in for 40 mins but unsure what I'm having done, or if they will be doing biopsies etc if they need to. So guess I will turn up and see. Luckily I'm due my period one week after my appointment, as was worrying that heavy bleeding would delay my app, so that's a relief. Just want to get there and get it done. 
How are you? I hope you are having a nice weekend

Casey xx