Hey everyone, I'm a 30 year old new mother and I had abnormal bleeding in 2022, I had a smear and it came back as abnormal cells. I was referred for a colposcopy which came back as okay and was told to attend my normal smear in 3 years.
Fast forward to May 2024 after I've had my little girl and my implant refitted after giving birth and the bleeding started again. I put it off for a bit as the bleeding was on and off and thought it may be to do with my new implant. Finally in October 2024 I went private to see a gyno who did an examination and said she couldn't see anything but also did a smear just in case.
I never heard back so assumed the smear came back fine (silly me didn't follow up with having a new baby and life getting in the way!)
Fast forward again to today (January 2nd 2025) and I get a call from the gyno saying they finally received my results and I'm now high risk and needs a LLETZ procedure next week. She said she wasn't worried its cancer but I should get the procedure done ASAP.
I'm absolutely terrified I've got cancer as the bleeding is definitely a symptom and the results took months to come back which has obviously delayed treatment. I've got an 8 month old little girl and I am so scared that I'm going to end up dying and leaving her. My mum had to have a radical hysterectomy when she was 38 and so i am so scared that I'm at a later stage of the cancer and won't be able to be cured.
Just looking for some words of reassurance!
Hi Kapow and welcome to our group.
I can see you are very anxious, but think you are racing ahead with your thoughts because you’re scared.
Your gynaecologist has told you that she is not concerned you have cancer, and bleeding can be caused by many things which are not cancer. I’d hold onto those thoughts and go to have the LLETZ procedure done. Perhaps it’s the words “high risk” that have concerned you most?
Having high risk hpv absolutely does not mean you would ever have cancer now or in the future-many people carry the virus and it never causes any issues for them. It sounds like abnormal cells have been identified but abnormal cells are not cancer. If they are high grade abnormal cells then it’s a good idea to have them removed and this will be done in the LLETZ procedure.
After you have the procedure next week the cells removed will be analysed by the lab, and the hope is that the procedure will have removed them all-you will be checked again in a few months.
Focus on what you know for now, which is that you are having a minor procedure to remove some cells and try not to let your mind run away with itself.
Sarah xx
The delay in getting your results is regrettable, but should not have any detrimental affect on your outcome-these cells are typically very slow growing. Waiting a week for you LLETZ will make no difference either.
For some context, and maybe to give you some perspective, I had multiple symptoms and very high levels of pain and serious bleeding for more than a year before I even went to a doctor. Yes, I got a cancer diagnosis, but was successfully treated and that was more than 6 years ago.
My cancer recurred and I had massive surgery (far bigger than a hysterectomy) almost 5 years ago. I’m still here, and still well.
I have 2 daughters and NEVER thought I would be leaving them-I have a new baby granddaughter and don’t focus on the fact that I used to have cancer.
Please don’t waste your life thinking you have cancer-you only have cancer if they tell you that you do, and no-one has said that. You might have a bit of a wait for your results from the LLETZ, but I’d recommend you seek some help from you gp with your anxiety if you feel things are getting too much for you.
Sarah xx
Cancer affects everyone differently, no matter what the cancer type. Some cancers are more aggressive than others, but everyone’s outcome is unique for them.
I‘m not sure where you are reading that “the cancer is really aggressive once you have it.” Was that from Google and did it relate to cervical cancer?
I notice that you posted previously in another group where your anxiety had led you to believe you had breast cancer. I’m presuming you didn’t as you didn’t post again about this?
But honestly, Dr Google is not the place to be seeking answers, if that’s what you are doing-especially with no diagnosis. It really will not be helpful for you-it will only fuel your anxiety.
I didn’t use Google even with a cancer diagnosis! I trusted my doctors, though I appreciate you have had your trust shaken a little.
Sarah xx
It is very hard to keep anxiety under control-I really do understand that and I have counselling myself for it which has really helped, although mine is not specifically health anxiety.
There are several different types of cervical cancer, and it is true that some types are more aggressive than others. I had adenocarcinoma which I was told at my diagnosis appointment was rarer than the more common squamous cell carcinoma. The treatment would have been the same for either type. I’d suggest NOT researching cervical cancer types without a diagnosis though, as it will make your anxiety even worse.
Please get some help from your gp to try and get control of your anxiety-spiralling is not good for you or your baby. And please try and keep away from Google!
If you’d like to get some help, I can also recommend calling the Macmillan support line-the number is in my signature. This might help reassure you and they have nurses available to talk to.
Sarah xx
Hi Deb12345 and welcome to our group.
Would you like to share a little bit more about what’s happened with you? Who phoned to tell you this? Was this after a test of some sort?
I’m sorry to read you feel your husband has the wrong attitude but maybe he just feels that you need to find out more first before you panic, or maybe he’s scared? I hope you can let us know a bit more about your situation.
Sarah xx
