Colposcopy punch biopsy & MDT meeting - so confused

Hi Loulou94 

I didn’t have the same experience you have had but wanted to welcome you to the group so you know someone is here and reading your post.

I would gently recommend that you try not to diagnose yourself from Dr Google. This can send you into more confusion and anxiety without giving you any answers.

Can I ask did the punch biopsy results give the verdict of rare cells and precancerous cells? Sorry, I wasn’t clear from your post if the doctor had said that at the time or it was from the biopsy results. You mentioned scans-can you say what scans you had?

It is quite standard for the results to go to an MDT for consideration-the various specialists like gynaecologist and radiologist can then all get together to consider what’s best to do next.

I don’t think the doctor will be hiding anything from you-he’s simply not certain at this point and further discussion is needed with colleagues. It’s also quite standard to put you to sleep if there is a large area requiring treatment. 

I would hold onto the fact that it’s not cancer until you’re told it’s cancer, and they’re not sure yet it seems. Do you know when the MDT will meet and you’ll have an outcome? I hope you don’t have long to wait, as waiting is typically the worst part. Once you know what you’re dealing with I think things become easier to deal with.

Sarah xx

One hospital told me I had cancer 5 years ago and I transferred to another treatment centre nearer to my home for treatment.  I was rescanned and then advised I didn't have cancer but did have pre-cancerous cells, which were removed under a general.  When I queried the different diagnoses from the two hospitals, both equally eminent, I was told that pathology is not an exact science!!  Since then I have had regular colposcopies every 6 months and further precancerous bits removed during day surgery.  Unfortunately, however, last June they did find a tumour.  If you are searching for information I recommend the Cancer Research website.  Doctors are usually very good at letting you know outcome of the MDT mtg.promptly.  A dept. secretary could tell you when the weekly MDT meeting is held if that would help you.  We all know that the waiting is often the worst bit and I hope you have someone you can talk to  or find reassurance from this site. Best wishes.

Hi Jenk 

I don’t think I’ve seen you in the group before, so welcome. Would you like to make a new post to introduce yourself, as posts can sometimes get missed in a thread?

Have you had surgery/treatment? Hope you’re doing well and that you’ll stick around and post again. It’s very helpful for other ladies newly diagnosed to read personal experiences.

Sarah xx

Hi, thank you for getting back to me, I don’t really know how the sight works so just posted in hope someone would see, so thank you.

I absolutely agree about Dr google I never do it but as this came out of the blue very unexpected and I couldn’t really bring it up to anyone I didn’t know what else to do.

no he said the smear showed and after he looked he said it’s a mixture so again means nothing to me then kept on about an mdt which I had to google when I left as I didn’t know what that meant ether and google is not so friendly, he said definitely pre-cancerous but couldn’t confirm cancer without biopsy results which I understand, by scans I mean the pictures taken inside me. 

He said I should be back next week for treatment so assuming it will be sometime soon I will hear back but you are so spot on it’s the waiting I have ms positive and negative in my head having a fight one minute I’m like it will be fine other side is like no it won’t as my mum died of ovarian cancer 2 years ago only 55 years old and she didn’t even get to treatment 2 weeks of diagnosis and she went so don’t think that helps but this is different and I need to chill out but this forum is helping a lot.

thank you so much 

Hi Jenk, 

thank you for the information you have provided, I am so sorry to hear about your diagnosis. I will have a look on them websites, I really hate the waiting I just want to know what I’m dealing with even if it’s surgery then I can get my head round that but it’s not knowing anything as I expected it to be done the same day as the colposcopy as stated in the letter now it’s gone off track to a meeting then to treatment.

thank you for you advice and wish you all the luck with you and this sight does help as I don’t really want to talk to anyone else at the moment 

Hi again,

Be reassured your situation has not gone off track. At a MDT,  All the various disciplines involved collectively decide what is the best way forward for you personally, depending on the results of biopsies, scans, etc.  There could be a variety of options and I found this system very reassuring.  Cancer or precancer treatment is variable based on lots of different factors.  It may be they want to do further investigations under a general even, which can be scheduled quite quickly whereas chemo or radiotherapy takes longer to organise I found.  I hope you will get more used to the waiting stress because I fear you have a way to go whatever treatment you land up having.  Try and find a local support group too, it’s never too early to contact them especially if you don’t have other easy options to talk about how you’re feeling.  Best wishes

Hi Jenk,

Thank you, I will try find a support group in the meantime I do feel I maybe being dramatic but I just don’t know yet, you are right I need to try and get on with things like work and kids I have a busy life but this is bringing me down on top of life stresses it’s a lot to take in considering I never thought in a million years the C bomb would be mentioned to me at 29 years old, it’s very helpful on here as people are going through the same thing and the waiting. 

Hi Loulou94 

Sorry for the delay in getting back to you-I had to be away for the day today and just got in. When I asked about scans, I meant what type of scans, but I presume you might mean an ultrasound or transvaginal scan as opposed to an mri or Ct scan which are typical if there is a cancer diagnosis. 

Back next week for treatment suggests a procedure to remove abnormal cells. But it will depend on the outcome of the MDT (multidisciplinary meeting). I didn’t know what an mdt was either when I was first diagnosed and had to ask! They assume we know these things, but it’s all very new at the start. 

Waiting is a big part of the diagnosis procedure as they want to make sure you get the correct treatment. If it is just abnormal cells but over a large area, then you would usually have the procedure under a general anaesthetic, but you are not out for long for this. I’m not sure how he identified rare cells, but it may be that he means cells which are from further up the cervix. Still not definitely cancer. 

At the moment it’s way too early to rush ahead and think of cancer treatments, as you don’t know if cancer will be found. So just try to keep on with your life as normal, and don’t spend ages thinking “what if?” It just won’t help you for now with the extra worry. 

I’m so sorry to hear about your mum-I can imagine that will make you extra anxious. I lost both my parents to cancer, but not in such a quick way which must have been so hard to cope with.

Take care of yourself.

Sarah xx

Hi Sarah,

thank you for this information, I am feeling more positive and think I’m calming down down and getting on with life you and this website have helped me a lot in turns of the way I have been thinking.

im sorry to hear about your parents to, when I do hear back I will definitely keep in touch fingers crossed.

Definitely, please let us know how you get on- we will do our best to help support you. I hated people telling me to think positive when I was first diagnosed to be honest, but having been through this cancer twice now I do have an understanding of how much positivity can help. 

Just hang in there.

Sarah xx