Cervical screening

Hi there,

Great news for you, fingers crossed for scan results in March.

Yes, same for me with smears. The nurse reported back to GP and he wrote to my oncologist, who advised against smears as he said the fact that we have had radiotherapy completely messed up the results. He didn't feel there was any point, so I don't have them any more (I still haven't been able to stop the letters though).

However, I think people here have had different advice so probably best to check with your oncologist, and make sure you are happy with what they advise.

I did wonder if the radiotherapy we have had would kill the HPV in our systems, so unless we are unlucky enough to be infected again from another source, might we be free of it?  And it might also be worth checking if the HPV vaccine would still be worth having, I think they still give it if you are young-ish.

Hello Coffeequick 

I am pretty sure you will get some different replies about this!  As with what happened with Mrs Vanilla, some doctors advise against ever having more smears but there have been a few who have had it done regardless of the medical profession knowing about their medical history.

I had to go into my GP practice as I had a letter from them telling me I had ignored the test from the Bowel Screening Programme - um, yes, I have a stoma.  However, I have since read online that I should do the FIT test on what I pass into the bag - nobody told me!

What there isn't any doubt about is that pelvic radiotherapy changes both the anal canal and the vagina so accuracy may be difficult.

I am really happy that all your scans are clear, long may it continue!

Irene xx

Irene, I was quite happy with this - it was extremely painful trying to get that speculum in!!! 

Hi Coffeequick ,

I’m sorry that you had difficulties with your cervical screening.

I’m one of those that was advised to continue if at all possible with smear tests. My colorectal surgeon advised me to get one done prior to surgery/treatment & I’ve had another one done a year or so ago. I was lucky that it was straightforward & not painful at all & the nurse said she located my cervix easily & everything ‘looked healthy’ my results came back negative for HPV which I believe is all they test for now.

Nicola 

Hi Coffeequick Personally i would ask for one to be done at the hospital. I havent had one since but i have had an exam i supppose you could call it and i spoke to the gynacologist about smears she said would be best done at hospital as they have the experience and the equipment which GPs dont always have. Xx

Hi Irene

I phoned up when I got my first bowel screening kit after my surgery and said about having a stoma-they said I should still do it from the bag. I’ve had 2 screening tests since having my stoma, and both have been fine. 

Sarah xx

Thank you SarahH21 

I don't suppose it will make much difference but I am going to give the screening centre feedback about this; I was going to double-check the small print on the leaflet that came with the kit but have long thrown the FIT test away.

Irene xx

Hi Irene

The reason I phoned up was because there was NOTHING in the leaflet that mentioned doing the test after a stoma at all and I checked it thoroughly. It’s a good idea to give feedback-maybe things can change.

I kept getting letters to go for cervical screening but they come from the screening service, not the gp, so I couldn’t get them stopped until I put a request in writing direct to the screening service. I asked where they intended to put the speculum when I have no cervix and no vagina! 

This week, I had a phone review about my diabetes with a gp from my surgery. He asked me to drop in a urine sample, but I had to tell him I had no bladder and the results would not be accurate from a urostomy bag. He agreed and apologised for asking. Just another thing you need to tell doctors who don’t read all your notes! 

Sarah xx

Hello @SarahH21

Thank you for confirming that - I can safely mention the lack of instructions now!

I would have thought that your medical record would have shown significant conditions prominently - obviously not!

Irene xx

Hi Irene

I was surprised to find out last year that my pelvic exenteration wasn’t recorded anywhere on my NHS record at the gp surgery…I found this out by chance in 2024, and then last year found out by chance when my hip pain was being investigated that scan results in 2023 for something else had shown my severe osteoarthritis. But of course nobody told me in 2023 so it was allowed to deteriorate. And now I can’t have the surgery I should have had because of my stroke! 

None of these computer systems link effectively with each other, so I’m glad at least that I have a better gp now who has updated my record. 

Sarah xx