Hello ladies, I had a colposcopy 2 weeks ago, a letter was sent to my GP stating I had some mild changes “CIN1 AT MOST” I was also told as you may remember “I wouldn’t have thought you have cancer and certainly not at your age “ !! Anyway NO cervical biopsy was taken only endometrial which I’ve been informed have came back normal. I’ve not bled for 5 days, however I’ve got a constant heavy sensation in the pelvic area with pain and also lower back pain, not relieved by new meds …Tramadol. Has anyone had CIN1 confirmed without a biopsy ? I am unwell everyday with pain& discomfort. Im getting endometrial ablation for periods which is great, but the question is WHY do I bleed constantly for long periods (7weeks), bleed between periods, large clots, post coital bleeding & now pelvic pain & lower back pain without bleeding? Im feeling very nauseous also. Im unsure where I go from here ? Any advice going forward is greatly appreciated.
Hi Aimee
I certainly remember the way you were dismissed! I missed out the whole CIN part of this process as I went straight to a diagnosis of cancer from my very first appointment and biopsies. But I am aware that cervical biopsies are not always done at colposcopy, so that in itself is not necessarily unusual as far as I am aware. CIN at any level does not always produce symptoms for everyone, some people have none and no pain, some have a lot.
I would still be concerned about your ongoing symptoms, especially if you aren’t getting any relief from Tramadol. This is normally a very effective painkiller-it’s an opioid for moderate to moderately severe pain-and was eventually prescribed to me when I was waiting for my major surgery and my cancer was spreading quite aggressively. So my pain was pretty bad, and while Tramadol didn’t entirely eliminate the pain, it certainly really helped. This was after trying co codamol and all the usual pain killers. Is your doctor aware that Tramadol isn’t helping?
It’s good that you had a clear result from the endometrial biopsy, and I really hope that the ablation will help, and I suppose there might be a refusal to investigate anything else until this procedure is done. if you have it and it doesn’t help, you must push for further investigations. Do you know when it is likely to happen?
I honestly always hesitate to put anything out there which might frighten people, but your symptoms are concerning. Not all smears and colposcopies are 100% accurate, and not all types of cervical cancer are caused by hpv , and some do not have a pre cancerous cell stage. There are quite a few different types of cervical cancer, which wasn’t something I was aware of when I was first diagnosed. I assumed it was just “cervical cancer”, but that’s not the case. To have a level of pain that Tramadol isn’t touching, and all the symptoms you are having should, in my opinion, require further investigation, but it seems that the focus is on an ablation to “fix” everything. Maybe it will, but if it doesn’t, maybe it’s time for a second opinion from another doctor. I stress that I’m not saying I think you have cervical cancer of any type, and I’m not a doctor of course.
You must be just beside yourself with this constant pain and no answers and I’m so sorry you are still no further on.
Sarah xx
18 weeks is a long time to be in pain...
Sorry, but they cannot say definitively that “CIN1 at most is present” without biopsies. And they cannot see at all higher up into the cervical canal. Cancer can start well beyond the reach of a smear or a “look”. I had adenocarcinoma, so the glandular type, which is not always picked up by routine exams as it begins in the cervical canal.
There are 2 main types of cervical cancer which are the most common, but there are a number of other types which are rare, but none the less do occur, and I do know 2 women who had a rare type so it’s not that uncommon.
I cannot understand why no-one is listening to your new symptoms.
Sarah xx
Ultrasounds are not typically used in a diagnosis of cervical cancer as it’s often missed on them, but they would be looking at your pelvic area and womb etc.
I’m not sure how much the gp will be able to tell you, so you may just get told you have to wait. I think I’d be asking the gp if you can get a second opinion if you remain unhappy with the hospital you’re with.
Sarah xx
