Hi,
I’m posting for support and also to see if anyone else can explain in layman’s terms, what I’ve got going on and how worried I should be.
I went for my routine smear in September 22 (previous smears fine). I eventually got confirmation from my GP that I was HPV positive and had borderline cell changes. I was told this by them, before receiving written confirmation in the post, or invite for colposcopy.
In a blind panic, I contacted my private insurer and was referred for a private colposcopy (which I had 16th November) at the appointment i was told it looked to be CIN1 with small area of CIN2 of which, biopsy was taken for testing. The colposcopist reassured me that we were looking at cell changes, not cervical cancer.
Today, I’ve received the following update from the private hospital
‘We have now received your cervical biopsy result, including attached supplementary report. The biopsy was adequate for a full histological assessment and has confirmed there was a lesion which associated with CIN HPV-related changes (cervical intraepithelial neoplasia), but it was difficult to grade an exact type on existing sample (please see attached a full histopathology result).
Therefore, it would be recommended according to the current NHS CSP guidelines to have further investigation such as a diagnostic local excisional biopsy (known as LLETZ). LLETZ procedure can be done under local or general anaesthetic depends on your wishes.
At the current time you have two options, depending on your personal circumstances and eligibility for NHS services.
One option is to see your GP as soon as possible to arrange an urgent referral to Colposcopy Department for above mentioned procedure to be done via NHS’.
Does this mean the situation is worse than originally believed? Should I be worried it could be, or is looking to be something worse?
I’m trying to get back in for the LLETZ appointment but the insurer is saying I need to get a follow up first and that I’m perhaps jumping ahead of myself. The clinic that took the biopsy don’t even do LLETZ, I’d need another referral to go somewhere else. At this rate, I just want it all done, they can take my womb too if needs be, I’m all over the shop.
I’ve still got the original NHS colposcopy appointment for December, I’m planning to go as I was under the impression they normally try to treat there and then rather than keep calling you back, which might just be a tactic used by private clinics to get more money from the insurer. That may be an unfair assumption but this seems to be going on and on.
Someone’s suggested I call the hospital and say I’ve had this result privately, could we make the colposcopy appointment a LLETZ one instead. My concern is calling them now and telling them I’ve had private treatment, they might cancel my appointment altogether and I’ll have to wait longer?
If you’ve got this far, thank you xx
