Hi all,
So bit of background I have had regular periods all my life and could pinpoint the exact start date, and would always last 5 days in duration, at the end of 2023 my periods started to change, I put this down to medication I was on for a shoulder injury. Well I had a smear test done in the jan of 2024 and all was normal, with the exception of having BV. Also completed all STI checks, all clear. So I start the treatment for BV and had a few more medication changes. I have always been lucky in the respect of not having any of they normal symptoms most people feel on a period, I.e no cramps headaches, mood swings, sore ripples.... absolutely nothing. The o my way I know if I'm on, is well when I feel it, which previously I could pin point the exact date so not a problem. Well after a second surgery for my shoulder in April and more medication changes, my periods were slowly getting longer and lots of spotting in between, to now where I am on for roughly 25days of the month.
So I was given tranexamic acid by GP but no change and referred for intravaginal and pelvic scan. I eventually had this in Dec 2024. The nurse confirmed that I had a 3cm mass in my lower cervix and I was given a GP appointment for the next day. I was put on the cancer pathway and 2 days before Xmas the specialist gyny called me. Since then I have had blood test.. all negative. A hysteroscopy with biopsy and an MRI that was 2 weeks ago.
So now I'm worried about if this is cancer, at the biopsy I was informed the mass had grown along my cervical wall and the gyny seemed very surprised at the route I was referred and initially thought they were just going to be able to remove it as a fibroid and fit me with a coil. Well due to the spread obviously she couldn't do that. So now I have been stressing as we do have a history of cancer in the family, all in different body parts and the waiting for results is taking a toll on me. What is a normal wait time for results? I am concerned with how fast they had the mri done as I know a lot of people have said they usually wait for biopsy to come back before having one.
I am now on tranaxemic acid and norethisterone to control the bleeding. Alongside this I am on fentanyl patches, naproxen, oneprazole, citalopram and zomorph. I am still 2 years later under a consultant for my shoulder and the meds have taken a toll on my teeth ( I have druggie teeth) from a normal set of nashers.
I guess I'm just looking for a bit or reassurance and advice on the timeline on how long I would expect to wait for results and I guess what the next steps are if it is positive as that's not really been discussed with me yet, so I'm not too sure what I should be researching as a lot of people have told me I will be given options for treatment but the decision is left to me on which I choose.
I am assuming either way I will require surgery to remove the mass. Thanks for taking the time to read and any advice, thought or your own experiences would really help
Hi Sweatyghost and a very warm welcome to the online community which I hope you'll find is both an informative and supportive place to be.
It sounds like you've been through a great deal and I hope you get answers from your medical team soon.
The online community is divided into different support groups and I can see that you've already found and joined the cervical cancer group, which is a great place to ask questions, share experiences and get support. When you feel ready you can start a new post there in the same way as you did here and join in with existing conversations by clicking on 'reply'.
It would be great if you could put something about your tests and treatment to date into your profile as it really helps others when replying to you and also when looking for someone on a similar pathway. It also means that you don't have to keep repeating yourself. To do this click on your username and then select 'Profile'. You can amend it at any time and if you're not sure what to write you can take a look at mine by clicking on my username.
"Never regret a day in your life, good days give you happiness, bad days give you experience"
Hi Sweatyghost and welcome to our group.
I can see how much you are concerned about what’s happening with you, but the wait you are currently experiencing seems very typical-anything from 2-4 is normal although time feels it goes slowly.
I wouldn’t recommend general Google searches when you haven’t had a diagnosis yet, and Google can’t tell you what’s wrong. Your friends have said that you will be given options for treatment and you can choose and it’s up to you. I’d just like to make you aware that might not be the case, depending on your results so try not to make any assumptions just yet.
While an mri might follow a biopsy, it seems in your case that this might have been done first because the mass which has been identified is actually quite large and the mri will show just where it is and how far it extends. A biopsy result will confirm what the mass is, and whether or not it is cancer, and then all the results will be collated.
The results will all go to an mdt meeting (Multi Disciplinary Team) where the various professionals will discuss your case(along with other patients) and decide on a plan of action. They will be looking at the most appropriate treatment depending on the findings of the scan and biopsy and this could be a number of things, so you can’t anticipate just yet what that might be.
It may be surgery, but it may not. I had cervical cancer and a mass measuring 3.7cm in my cervix and spreading into the vaginal wall. This made my cancer stage 2b, and surgery was not an option for me. Initially before my mri I was advised to expect a radical hysterectomy, but that plan changed to chemotherapy and radiation due to the size and location of my tumour.
I understand that cancer in the family can make you feel concerned, and both my parents passed with cancer, but I never compared myself to them-my cancer was different and unique to me.
I hope you’ll let us know what happens when you get your results and if you have a cancer diagnosis we will do our best to help support you in the group from our own experiences.
Sarah xx
