Hi,
On April 16th 2026 I finally had a successful smear test 7 years after my last. For over 2 years, despite having abnormal bleeding, lower back and pelvic pain and light bleeding after sex I have been unable to have a smear test completed due to bleeding! I have spoken to multiple GP's and nurses who all said it was important to get it done but no one would do it if I was bleeding....until April.
April 29th I get told I have tested positive for high risk HPV and high grade severe dyskaryosis(?!) so urgent cancer referral was made.
30th April I get a call....colposcopy to be done 7th May.
I get to my appt and the consultant asks me lots of questions, tells me it is quite bad to have severe grading after previously negative results but because I had left it so long it isn't unheard of (it wasn't my choice to not have my smear sooner so didn't appreciate the lecture but never mind!)
He does the colposcopy which causes me to bleed again and then asks me to sign a consent form there and then to have a lletz procedure immediately because he can see it's necessary and doesn't think we should delay. I agree and he gets started. Lots of mumbling to the 3 nurses in the room who were all lovely and kept saying 'oh my love', 'you are doing so well considering'. I chose not to look at the screen but now wish I had to see what they were talking about.
Once procedure was done the consultant said I will hear from the MDT within 2 weeks about next steps but that he is going to request a referral for a camera into my womb to look at that too. I asked what his thoughts were and he said 'let's wait and see'
5 days later I get an appt come through for 3rd June for multiple ultrasound scans to be done but still haven't had any results or heard from MDT.
Everything I've read suggests I have cancer. From my symptoms to the appts being made etc but I'm trying not to let my brain go there.
Has anyone else got experience of similar...good or bad? Any advice?!
We have a large history of cancers in my family so I know the odds aren't great but the waiting is so hard!
Hi CurlySue and welcome to our group.
I know from your post you’re worried about things, and I think that’s the same for all of us when we’re having symptoms investigated and we’re still waiting for answers. It’s a horrible time.
I haven’t had a LLETZ treatment myself, as unfortunately after my colposcopy I had a cancer diagnosis so it wasn’t appropriate, but that will hopefully not be your story. Sometimes we don’t hear back from ladies who’ve had a successful LLETZ treatment which was not cancer as they move on with their lives and don’t post any more, but I hope that you might get replies from ladies who are still reading posts and have had successful treatment with the LLETZ.
Normally the mdt will make a decision on next steps after all the results of tests are concluded, so maybe that’s why you haven’t heard yet? They may be waiting for the ultrasound scans and hysteroscopy to be completed and reported on. It’s hard to be waiting in limbo, but better for the team to have all the right information before deciding on what treatment might be needed.
I can appreciate that when cancer is prevalent in your family you may have that extra level of worry. However, only a small percentage of cancers have a family link, and the general statistics in the UK indicate that around half of us will develop cancer in our life time. That figure is influenced by our DNA makeup and a lot of other factors like our lifestyle which may increase our risk.
Try to think of all the tests as being necessary to explain what’s happening with the bleeding and other symptoms you have-it would be helpful I’m sure for you to have an explanation, and it may not be cancer.
There will always be support for you in the group, so I hope you’ll let us know how you get on with everything.
Sarah xx
