So scared. Cannot eat or sleep. Please help with some advice.

I just am sad to see you worrying so much at this stage before you know anything about what’s wrong, so I hope you can get help with your anxiety. 

Sarah xx

HI Nina I would stick with the 2 week pathway as it will likely be as quick if not quicker than private at this point. I had a radical hysterectomy in January and doing really well at the moment thanks.  I knew within a week privately but you still have to wait for scans etc anyway. I went privately because I just knew there was a problem and the GP wouldn't listen! Its the waiting and vulnerability that makes it difficult initially. I was also very lucky in that the lady I saw privately is also the surgeon who did my operation on NHS so I felt like I finally had someone in my corner. The big thing is to try to keep it all in perspective and just know that whatever comes along you have support here and people who know and understand hiw you feel. There is a very good chance that you are worrying over nothing xx

Hi 

I hope you are enjoying the sunshine. I saw a consultant today for a punch biopsy. He found a cervical polyps and removed it straight away. He said it was the likely cause for bleeding (which had stopped in any case) and that it was likely to be non cancerous. I bled during the biopsy but the bleeding stopped quickly. He said he was a cancer specialist and in his opinion, he thinks it may not be cancer. However, at the end he said he might invite me to speak to him after the results or write to me. Towards the end, it was all a blur and although the nurses were great I couldn’t help but cry. I felt so vulnerable (I felt like a child again). I had this done privately through Bupa as the NHS called me last week advising that due to no further bleeding symptoms they would see me in three weeks (they also have a back log due to the bank holidays). The nurse over the phone kept saying I was worrying over nothing and I found that strange advice given she is not an expert. I now have a colposcopy appointment with the NHS and a separate smear test booking. Should I cancel these? I’m sorry for asking all these questions. My fears have returned after seeing the consultant and I’m back in that dark place. 

Hi Nina78 

Thanks for coming back to update us-I’m glad you’ve been seen now and had your biopsy taken. I would be reassured by what the consultant said-cervical polyps are usually benign and not cancerous.

The biopsy is the only way to give a definite answer, so it will still be a wait for results, but hopefully the consultant will be correct in his thinking that this is not anything serious. 

I can’t advise whether you should cancel your NHS appointments, as I’m not a professional, but you may have your results back before these are due to happen. The smear test is not a diagnostic test for cancer-it will test for the hpv virus and you would normally only be sent for a colposcopy if the virus is present to check for abnormal cells. Are you scheduled for the colposcopy because you had the unexplained bleeding? 

It’s sad to see you are in a dark place again, despite the consultant’s attempts to reassure you with his thinking but I imagine you’ll only feel settled when you have an answer on whether you have a cancer diagnosis or not. Did you seek any help from your gp with your anxiety yet? That still may be a good idea for you.

I hope you hear back soon with the biopsy results and everything is fine. 

Sarah xx

Hi Sarah,

Many thanks for your response. I have been booked for a colonoscopy due to the bleeding. But whilst booking the colonoscopy the hospital nurse rang me and advised that as I have only ever bled once in between periods it is not a sign of c. But I didn’t think she could advise on this, it’s still playing on my mind. I will book an appointment with my gp for some tablets to calm me down. Has anyone else taken such medication to control their anxiety? 

Hi Nina78 

The nurse is correct in what she’s saying in my experience. Bleeding with cervical cancer for me was frequent and prolonged, accompanied by a great deal of pain. So a one off incident could be many other things and could have been caused by the polyp which has now been removed.

There is more urgency to suspect cancer with bright red heavy bleeding and pain, so I can understand her trying to reassure you.

When I went to my gp originally with my symptoms of pain and post menopausal bleeding I was also suffering from non health related anxiety. So I was prescribed medication for this, which definitely helped. Self help techniques like mindfulness and relaxation can also help keep you calm, and there are lots of free apps you can download to your phone. I used them particularly when I was going for results appointments and scans. 

Obviously I did get a cancer diagnosis, which I truly wasn’t expecting, so my gp advised me to continue with my anxiety medication which I did all through my first line of treatment and beyond. I took them for around 18 months all in all as I had a recurrence to deal with so it was an extra “tool” to help me with the very real anxiety when that happened, up until I had my surgery. I have not been on any anxiety medication for 3 years now. 

It does seem like having some medication could help you as you go through this difficult time.

Sarah xx

Hi BabyDragon

Many thanks for your response. I don’t know which type of HPV it is. I only found out I had it last year during a routine smear. I spoke to Bupa today and my consultant is now away on holiday until e end of the month. His secretary has advised me that the results are back this week. It’s pretty rubbish tbh.I’m worried sick and I don’t know where I stand. I’m not bleeding at all but I’m mega seitive to any ache or pain. What I keep thinking is that even if they find something, surly it cannot grow that fast. I was prescribed sleeping tablets but I haven’t taken them yet. Might do tonight.’m struggling at work. I will come back and let you know the results.

Hi Nina78 

The specific strain number or numbers aren’t actually relevant to treatment required. I know you’ve gone with BUPA so I don’t know if their testing will give you a specific number. NHS testing is looking for high risk hpv strains, typically 16 and 18, but the results given to patients simply state high risk hpv. 

Typically cervical cancer is slow growing, and so while it’s not impossible, it’s not so likely. I would agree with  about getting your mind in the right state. Coping with uncertainty is always difficult but she’s given you some very good advice in her post about distracting yourself from the negative thoughts.

You won’t get results for a while now, so try and get rid of those “what if” thoughts-you are borrowing tomorrow’s worries for today and it honestly doesn’t serve any purpose. 

Sarah xx

Thanks both. The smear result last year simply stated HPV positive- normal cells. The Bupa consultant said they will only say HPV if it is high risk. I’ve read other threads on this forum where people have specifically been advised that their HPV is high risk. I guess different healthcare providers use different language. Thanks for the advice. I am now reading lots of magazines and listening to classic fm. Fancy a glass of wine, but I'm trying to be good. Will take the sleeping tablet instead. 

Hi Nina78 

Everyone who has abnormal cells or cervical cancer caused by hpv will have high risk hpv. There are over 200 strains of hpv but not all are high risk-the low risk strains for example can cause genital warts but don’t cause cervical cancer.

It’s good to read you are having a relaxing evening-that might be enough for you to manage without the sleeping pills? 

Take care

Sarah xx