Hi everyone,
I just wanted to give an update. I’ve used this forum as a support tool since March and I have found it so useful and reassuring to read everyone else’s stories- so here is mine!
3rd March- routine smear test. I’ve been regular with my smear tests. Had one at 20 when I lived in Scotland (clear results), another at 25 when I moved to Leeds (clear results) and this was my third at the age of 28. Two weeks after this I got a phonecall saying I had an appointment for the 24th March for a colposcopy as I had high grade dyskaryoasis.
24th March- colposcopy appointment. After getting settled into the chair and a lot of fumbling (my cervix is apparently very hard to find) I could see on the screen the changes the doctor was talking about. After applying the vinegar solution, there were some white areas and some with red angry looking tiny veins. She told me these very severe changes CIN3 and she performed the LLETZ treatment on the spot. The injection for the anisthetic was the worst part but it wasn’t too uncomfortable. My whole body was shaking afterwards and I feel very tired. I had a watery discharge for about 3-4 weeks but nothing too major.
18th May- I got a phonecall saying I had a follow up appointment because the abnormality they removed was more severe than they initially thought. This was followed by a letter the following day. This sent me into meltdown. Surely the only thing worse than CIN3 was cancer?
20th June- today I went for my follow up appointment. It was with the consultant and he explained that what they removed during my first lletz on the 23rd March was indeed cancer. Just hearing the word made me want to throw up! He explained it all very clearly though and said that he wanted to perform the lletz treatment again to ensure that he had gotten rid of the rest of the pre cancerous cells and make sure the cancerous cells were not anywhere else. The lletz treatment was more painful this time but he was so reassuring and I felt very positive. He said I was lucky to have gone for my smear in March- any longer and it could have spread to stage 2. He said he was happy with my treatment and he was going to perform my next smear test in 6 months time to ensure it all goes smoothly. He also told me what would happen when we decide to have children and they can stitch my cervix if it isn’t strong enough.
I feel extremely positive about it all now. My husband thought I was dying when the word cancer was mentioned but my smear test in March was the first step to getting rid of it! Please don’t be scared of smear tests and colposcopy sand lletz treatments. I feel so lucky that it didn’t develop further and I’m out of the woods now. Keep up to date with smears ladies! I did, and I caught it in time.
Don’t be worrying by yourself. Use this blog to find out information- I found it extremely reassuring during a very dark time.
