Ain 3 please tell me you experience

Hello Katy

I can totally understand your fears and concerns about future cancer.

I had a routine smear 28 years ago and CIN3 was diagnosed, LEEP twice over the next few years, then all quiet. Routine smear in 2016 picked up cell changes, but no HPV. Smear in 2025 HPV16 but no cell changes. Under observation.

This year I was diagnosed with anal/rectal cancer and treated with chemoradiation. Further tests being done to establish if the treatment has worked.

That's my history, but I came on the post to say there is hope. The HPV can clear and if the cell changes are caught early lots of options for treatment. Fantastic news from your check up in November, the treatment has worked. 

I am very confident that your medical team will keep a close watch with smears and HPV tests, that means they can take early action before the cells change to cancer cells. I am not medically qualified, but it is my understanding that it takes time for these cells to turn into cancer.

This disease is horrible and it steals our confidence and gives us daily fears. I personally refuse to live my life like this, it's bad for my immune system and mental health. I walk, cook and do anything that distracts my mind and creates joy in my life. 

I hope you can find a way through this Katy, Macmillan nurses and Maggie's might be able to offer support.

Stay strong

Ally xx

• Thank you so much 

Hello Katy 

My story is very similar to Ally's.  Over 40 years ago a routine smear showed CIN3 in my cervix which resulted in me going into hospital for a conical biopsy.  The margins were clear and that was that.  I never heard anything else and had absolutely no idea that I was at risk.  I later had a hysterectomy but that was due to fibroids and very heavy periods.

It wasn't until I joined this forum that I found out about the connection which really shocked me.  However, I think your experience is very different from mine, they seem to be keeping a very close eye on you.  I am not for one minute belittling your concerns, you sound as though you feel you have the Sword of Damocles dangling over your head and that must be so very stressful. 

But there was me in the dark for all those years and fortunately nothing happened until I developed anal cancer (four years in March and the September scan was clear).  They say ignorance is bliss and I have to say in my case that is true, if I had known back then (with a new-born) what I know now I would have been out of my head with worry.

No one can say you won't get cancer, sadly, but that is the same for any illness or cancer entirely unrelated to HPV16.

Ally has some good living guidelines to coping with stress and please get help, from your GP or those organisations that Ally mentioned, sooner rather than later if you feel you can't cope.

Sending a huge hug

Irene xx