This is not nice. (My Experience of Cervical Cancer)

Member Name: MarianNt5

Product:	My Experience of Cervical Cancer
Date:	31/05/01 (174 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: See op.

Disadvantages: See op.

I have just read sandyd's excellent opinion and thought I would share my very different experience.

It started thirteen years ago after a routine three year smear test. I had it done, reluctantly I might add as I think most of us do, but boy was I glad I did.

When my result came back after three weeks the doctor sent me a letter asking me to come in for a retest as there were not enough cells. I had to go back a further four times until they could get enough to test, and my GP said that although it looked suspicious but it could be left until my next routine smear. He called me early for the next one and it duly came back as borderline, and I was told I would have to go to the Colposcopy Clinic.

I was terrified but the doctor and practice nurse sat and told me everything that would happen at the clinic, which made me feel a lot better about it.

When I went to the clinic I had what is called a cone biopsy, where a cone shaped sample is taken from the cervix, the consultant and nurse told me beforehand that this could be painful but I could have a sedative if I wanted it.When these results came back a month later I was told that I would in fact need treatment.

This was done at my local hospital and consisted of using a cold laser to burn off the cells that were wrong, this in itself was not painful, just very uncomfortable, it is later that it hurts. I had another smear six months later and it came back positive, so off I went for more of what I though would be the same, but this time the surgeon deceided on heat treatment. This consists of having the cells burnt away. It is painful and a bit disconcerting smelling burning coming from yourself. I took all of six weeks to recover from this, and I thought, this is not good, hope it worked.

It didn't and at my next smear not only was it positive, but also they found growths which would have to be cut out.

I went into hospital as a day patient and had
my surgery, the consultant came by and said it had been difficult but he had got it all, great relief was felt all round I can tell you.

I have since had smears every six months for a year and then every year, and although there have been a few scares I have been told that this years will be the last yearly one.

I feel much better in myself, I don't worry about smears anymore. My surgeon is brilliant and I have seen the same one all through. Everything has been explained to me before it happened and I was always put at ease. Every woman must go for smears when called as it is the only way this disease will be eradicated.

One bonus though, my periods, which were always very heavy, are now almost non existent, a side effect of the surgery I am told.

Summary: