Hi,
I got my diagnosis last Friday and I am absolutely terrified and petrified. I can't sleep or eat. Next week I get appointments for a PET scan and MRI.
I wanted to join this forum because in my country the support groups are very small and there seems to be no support available. I understand that treatment is very similar in the Nordic countries, so I think I can get peer support from the UK as well. Sorry about the language, the terminology is a bit tricky as English is not my first language.
At the beginning of December, a smear was taken and, because of the visible changes, also biopsies. I was scared for a week, but got good news, no cancer cells in the biopsies, only pre-cancer, which was treated with leep (lietz?) last Tuesday. However, the pathologist's report found a cancerous tumour and I am now waiting for treatment. According to the doctor, the tumour was removed with margins, but the spread is of course being investigated.
Mentally, this is absolutely terrible and I hope that there is support and encouragement here in this group.
Hi Inge and welcome to our group.
You can finitely find support here and the treatment paths should be very similar despite our different locations.
Since you’ve had a LLETZ already, it is very possible that any cancer has already been completely removed. That can happen with a very small cancer. But the mri and pet scan will hopefully confirm for you. Spread is highly unlikely with an early stage cancer. I had no spread with locally advanced cancer which was stage2b, with quite a large tumour.
I’d recommend trying to keep calm and concentrate on the things you know for sure, not thoughts which may not be accurate. You need to eat, you need to sleep so try to relax. Mediation and mindfulness apps on your phone can help to calm you and taking care of yourself is very important.
You are being dealt with very quickly, which is very positive, but I know the thoughts in your head can be difficult to manage while you wait for more information. Once you know what is happening next, that gives you a focus to deal with any treatment if it’s needed.
Please keep us updated, and post with any questions or worries-we are here to help support you, and there are many of us who have been in the position you are right now so we understand how scary this is. Your English is excellent, so don’t worry about that!
Sarah xx
Thank you for your kind words!
I try to keep me thoughts on positive side, even it is nearly impossible.
i’ve heard how this ”waiting for more information” is the worst part, so I hope it will be short and surgery iis the treatment. But is ilpossible to turn off the other thoughts.
invasion depth was 3,4mm, so at least that is good thing, but I still keep thinking how spread this is.
After LLETZ I got heavy bleeding and lost lot of blood and this has made me very weak. Now trying to eat iron to make hemoglobine better.
The depth is tiny, even though you may not think so. It would honestly be very unlikely to have spread although obviously that’s not impossible, but it’s best to try not to think about this because it is giving you worry that you don’t need right now.
The time to worry is IF you are told there is something to worry about. If you need any further treatment then it could be a hysterectomy as that is possible with early cancer. But again, try not to anticipate things just yet!
Sarah xx
Thank you Sarah!
A hysterectomy will be necessary anyway, as LLETZ did not get rid of all the pre-cancer, although it did get rid of the actual cancer. If I can get by with this measure alone, I'm happy, even if it is a big deal.
Here, it is also customary to remove ovaries at my age (45) by default and at this point I don't feel ready to face menopause on top of cancer.
Ok..they still need to check the scans for cancer as they are checking for cancer even though you’ve said all the cancer has been removed. Only something of a certain size would be picked up on an mri scan-it doesn’t pick up tiny cells.
It is probably safer to remove the ovaries, despite the thoughts of the menopause. In the UK a hysterectomy is only done for an early stage cancer at stage 1, or maybe early stage 2.
If you needed cancer treatment involving chemoradiation for a higher stage cancer-stage 2b or higher, this would put you in a surgical menopause in any case.
Sarah xx
Whatever cancer throws your way, we’re right there with you.
We’re here to provide physical, financial and emotional support.
© Macmillan Cancer Support 2025 © Macmillan Cancer Support, registered charity in England and Wales (261017), Scotland (SC039907) and the Isle of Man (604). Also operating in Northern Ireland. A company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales company number 2400969. Isle of Man company number 4694F. Registered office: 3rd Floor, Bronze Building, The Forge, 105 Sumner Street, London, SE1 9HZ. VAT no: 668265007