Hi… i was diagnosed with cervical cancer after having a loop diathermy done. They think im stage 1b . I am waiting for a MRI scan to stage me properly and decide treatment which could take 30 days for a date. I am now going mad with worry that i am worse i am 32 with 2 children . Google does not help . Can anyone suggest anything to help with anxiety while i wait .
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Hello Alice, welcome to the club nobody wants to be in. Firsty - stop googling. That information is outdated and everyone has a different story to tell. Stick to Jos for advice.
This horrible disease has been well and truly beaten by lots of ladies at all stages. 1,2,3 & 4!! Trust your team to be doing all these investigations , scans and meetings to make sure they kick it arse.
Breathe… we’re with you to answer all your questions xxx
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@Alice410
Hello and welcome! This is a very safe and friendly space so you’re among friends here.
Can I just say first of all how sorry I am that you have had your diagnosis. But then add you’re fortunate it’s “only” the stage it’s at. People like me and others on this site diagnosed with stage 4, metastasised CC, are still here!
So that brings me to the next thing I want to say, that I totally agree with @Shammy716 that you need to stop Googling. Google told me that my stage of cancer meant it was incurable and I would be expected to live 6-9 months, yet here I am, a year later. It’s a long journey but after the initial shock of diagnosis you just kind of accept it and get on with it.
You say you have kids but you haven’t said if you’re living with a partner. You will need support with the children because the treatment, regardless of what it is, will require time spent at the hospital, lots of appointments, and recovery time.
I used to work for social services about 30 years ago and even then there was help for parents needing hospital treatment who didn’t have much in the way of practical support. Kids would go to a childminder, including overnight if necessary (these were childminders who were fully trained and qualified by the Soc. Services to undertake this more demanding work, it’s a bit like fostering except the children don’t live there). I remember one lady who was having chemo every few weeks, her two young children were collected and taken to the childminder (who had two older kids who really took the little ones under their wing too) and they stayed there for three days and two nights, the grandparents were also able to provide some support.
That seems like a last resort but it’s worth asking to see a social worker if you are a single parent, believe me they are very very supportive. At the same time you can ask for support for yourself.
I have a partner but I was deemed recently to have low level support needs, the council would provide a career once a day to support with making a meal etc as my partner works long hours (we live on a farm in the middle of nowhere) but I declined as I don’t want to lose even more independence.
Another place which I found very very amazing for support was Maggie’s, I don’t know where you’re based but the hospital I go to has a Maggie’s next to it, they were fantastic and advised me about benefits, support available and so forth, and even just a friendly face to chat to.
You are not alone, especially now you have found this site! I believe there’s a helpline number and so on, so yes, definitely do NOT Google!
This forum is full of hope, reassuring stories, reality, women living in the real world with CC and beyond.
Good luck! Xxx
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Thankyou both for your kind words . I will stop googling things . I am hopefully having a MRI date next week . I do have a partner and great support of family . It is the anxiety of waiting for the MRI to find out if we have got this early . Every ache and pain that i would have been fine with before i now want to google. Does anybody suggets taking anything for anxiety. Xx
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Speak to tour GP
There is of course Kalms and rescue remedy buy by GP actually prescribed me anti anxiety and a sleeping tablet xx
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Thankyou i am taking calms atm . I will hopefully have a phone call tomorrow with a date for MRI . Again thankyou both for your help it has made me feel a bit better and to speak to people thay have been through /going through the same thing is me i think helps . X
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Alice we’ll help as much as we can. Don’t hesitate to ask x
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Hello,
I’m sorry that you are finding yourself here. I was diagnosed over a month ago. I’m 29 with no children and I’m stage 1A2. The waiting is definitely the worst part. Keep calling for a MRI appointment. I managed to get my scan 2 weeks early as the hosp had a cancellation. I got my results pretty quickly too and thankfully it was clear with no spread. The MRI isn’t scary at all, again, it’s the waiting. Please be assured it’s extremely rare for your stage to be “worse” upon MRI results. I was convinced that every niggle and pain I had was cancer but this is only natural.
Since my diagnosis I’ve had a cone biopsy and I’ve been told I’ll need lymph node removal to check that there is no further spread. I have a meeting with a cancer specialist on Wednesday but a hysterectomy has been recommended to me. Since I don’t have children this isn’t really something that I would like to do.
It’s an awful time and I’m sending you lots of love and strength. You will get through this and the amazing people on this forum will help you along the way 
Thankyou jodie its great news that there is no spread. I am going to call tomorrow and see about MRI scan. has anyone had any burning sensation in top of groin im not sure if it is thati am jealing from loop diathermy still bit has been 5 weeks . Its not bad pain it just feels like a buring sensation. Im not googling so thought i should ask on here instead .
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Alice! I’m so glad you mentioned about the burning sensation at the groin! I have this too. I’m actually going to call the dr about it tomorrow as I still have quite persistent pelvic pain. It does make me worry so much but I know it’s probably just normal from the procedure x
I am going to do the same its so unconfortable. Did you have a loop diathermy aswell. X
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Yes, I had a lletz 8 weeks ago and then a cone biopsy 2 weeks ago. I’m positive the aches and pains are from this but can’t help but get worried! It’s maybe worth the phone call to the doctors to put our minds at ease x
I have got my MRI next friday i have has a letter off my consultant saying i have poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinoma. What is that does anyone know ?
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Hi Alice sorry to hear you’ve recently been diagnosed waiting on scans etc is the worst everything seems to take ages, but they need all the info before they can plan your treatment. From my knowledge there are two main types of CC squashamous cell and adenocarcinoma. The poorly differentiated refers to the grade.
Grade 1 - well differentiated
Grade 2 - moderately differentiated
Grade 3 - poorly differentiated
You have not had your MRI yet so they can’t specify the stage, just take one day at a time, try and keep busy to take your mind off things I know its hard but once you have your stage you can focus on treatment.
Take care xx
Hi Alice,
I was diagnosed last week too, they think stage 2, also waiting for my MRI. Have you been given a Macmillan Nurse contact?
Hi sam, no not yet . I have a MTI scan on friday . So nervous. Do you have any symptoms aches and pains i just have a burning sensation in hips or top of groin some times whn i have done to much in the day . Apart from that i dont have anything. I am so nervous about a MRI have never had one before . There are plenly of ladies that will give advice on thos forum they really did help me ajd stopped me looking at google. X
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Hi Alice, I have this pain too it radiates down to my thighs and down to my back. Have you had a lletz or cone biopsy treatment? I’m worried it’s from that. I was given antibiotics for a pelvic infection last week but it’s not helping the pain. I’m stage 1a2
Hi Alice,
I get stabbing pains in the same locations and my period pain is a raw burning pain in my stomach, hips and lower back. I have to live on painkillers for those few days.
I’ve never had an MRI either, have mine on Wednesday morning so I can report back to you if you’d like?
I did as much research on google as I did to help me gather questions for the doctor, I recommend reading the medical publishings rather than peoples accounts. They helped me to be more logical and look at it from a factual/scientific perspective and understand why certain things were done during my colposcopy than an emotional perspective.
Ladies try not to stress about the MRI, I was very stressed but it’s honestly fine. The hardest part is the wait for the results and not the MRI itself. I wasn’t put into the machine fully, my head was sticking out so it’s fine. I actually found it a lot easier than I thought to sit still for 40-45 minutes. Time also passes a lot more quickly than you would think! I was given headphones to drown out the noise and the radiologist spoke to me through these headphones and guided me when appropriate.
Before the scan I had an IV fitted into my arm and was given some buscopan and dye. This again was totally fine. I panicked at getting this inserted but it really is nothing to worry about.
Sending lots of love, you will both be fine 
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Hi Alice,
Just got home from MRI, it’s absolutely fine, just keep your eyes shut and focus on your breathing, trying not to move your stomach too much. You’ll be all good xxxxx
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