Smear test results - Moderate
Discussion
Mrs _Deano has just been on the phone and is in tears, as she has just received her results from her smear test; a 'moderate' result?
The last test she had (about 2 years ago) was fine. She took the most recent test about 3 weeks ago.
I have absolutely no knowledge in this part of life or what it means, but does it mean the worst? Does it mean cancer? Is it curable?
She has been asked to come back on the 22nd for another test.
I don't know where to look for information, and i can't reassure her that everything will be ok, because i don't know.
Where can i go for answers?
Thanks
The last test she had (about 2 years ago) was fine. She took the most recent test about 3 weeks ago.
I have absolutely no knowledge in this part of life or what it means, but does it mean the worst? Does it mean cancer? Is it curable?
She has been asked to come back on the 22nd for another test.
I don't know where to look for information, and i can't reassure her that everything will be ok, because i don't know.
Where can i go for answers?
Thanks
It means they found moderate levels of cell abnormalities so there is a higher risk of developing cancer. About 1% of tests come back moderate to severe. she'll need further tests and treatment but it doesn't mean she definitely has cancer and doesn't necessarily mean she'll develop it. Some more info at http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/cancer-help/type/c... if that helps.
She will be monitored now, usually tests taken every 6 months to see how things are going on. A specialist will advise her of the options, it depends on the individual specialist too. At least if there 'is' a problem, it's being taken care of. The leaflets they send to you with the result always tell you the worst possible scenario.
Edited to say I'm not a medical person at all.
Edited to say I'm not a medical person at all.
Firstly, relax. It's ok. A lot of smear tests come back with abnormal results. especially in the under 25's.
If she's being asked to go back for another smear, and not a loop biopsy (the burning cells off bit), then great. Relax more.
Even if she has to go for a biopsy, it's both a test and treatment (all cells are removed, then tested, so even if they come back positive, the treatment has already been carried out). And this is still really common. No, it isn't nice. Yes, it can hurt. But it's ok.
Regular smear tests for the next few years are an irritation, sure, but much better than the alternative.
Hope this helps. If she wants to talk, pm me.
If she's being asked to go back for another smear, and not a loop biopsy (the burning cells off bit), then great. Relax more.
Even if she has to go for a biopsy, it's both a test and treatment (all cells are removed, then tested, so even if they come back positive, the treatment has already been carried out). And this is still really common. No, it isn't nice. Yes, it can hurt. But it's ok.
Regular smear tests for the next few years are an irritation, sure, but much better than the alternative.
Hope this helps. If she wants to talk, pm me.
Thank you all for the posts and the link to the Cancer Research website; it's very informative.
It's very reassuring to know that this isn't as bad as what we initially thought.
And thank you for posting your experiences. The fact that it's coming first hand from someone that has already gone through it, means that it's not just text that has been written by a doctor/nurse and posted online. To her, it's more personal and she can relate to that.
Although she is still worried (and i guess rightly so), she has calmed down quite a bit from when she was speaking to the lady from the NHS the other day.
I guess it's just a matter of getting her to the appointment and getting this sorted ASAP.
Thank you all again
It's very reassuring to know that this isn't as bad as what we initially thought.
And thank you for posting your experiences. The fact that it's coming first hand from someone that has already gone through it, means that it's not just text that has been written by a doctor/nurse and posted online. To her, it's more personal and she can relate to that.
Although she is still worried (and i guess rightly so), she has calmed down quite a bit from when she was speaking to the lady from the NHS the other day.
I guess it's just a matter of getting her to the appointment and getting this sorted ASAP.
Thank you all again
Whilst this is obviously of great concern to Mrs Deano, it is extremely common to get this result and she definitely should not start panicking about it.
I had stage 3 dodgy cervical cells (sorry for the totally non medical terminology)and I had them burnt away. As has been said, it's not the most pleasant experience, but it really wasn't that bad either. They had pictures of George Clooney on the ceiling to distract you
It was over in no time and then a few years of 6 monthly scans, and a few years of annual scans followed. Had no problems down there since.
I had stage 3 dodgy cervical cells (sorry for the totally non medical terminology)and I had them burnt away. As has been said, it's not the most pleasant experience, but it really wasn't that bad either. They had pictures of George Clooney on the ceiling to distract you
It was over in no time and then a few years of 6 monthly scans, and a few years of annual scans followed. Had no problems down there since.
If you have had a 'moderate' smear result, expect for your Mrs to undergo a colposcopy on the 22nd when you return. Likelihood is they will take some small histological tissue samples to grade the smear result more accurately. If is CIN I to III then they might just watch and wait, or, the worst that will happen is going forward to a LETZ (loop excision) - where they remove less than 1cm cervix to give clear margins (expect no nookie for a month or so 
- this comes with an exceptionally small risk of pre-term labour in any future pregnancies (mainly associated with a LETZ of greater than 1cm margin having been taken)
If the histology comes back worse than CIN III, expect a meeting with a gynaecologist who is up to speed with cervical cancers and listen carefully to their advice at that stage.
A moderate smear result isn't the be-all and end-all. Just listen carefully to the doctor at the appointment on the 22nd and you should be fine. Good luck!
- this comes with an exceptionally small risk of pre-term labour in any future pregnancies (mainly associated with a LETZ of greater than 1cm margin having been taken)If the histology comes back worse than CIN III, expect a meeting with a gynaecologist who is up to speed with cervical cancers and listen carefully to their advice at that stage.
A moderate smear result isn't the be-all and end-all. Just listen carefully to the doctor at the appointment on the 22nd and you should be fine. Good luck!
Sorry to jump in on the thread, but it seemed silly to start a new one on the same subject. If the OP would like me to start my own just say.
My friend had her smear test recently. It came back as adnormal, she had a colposcopy, and that too came back showing something (can't remember what). However they aren't doing anything else about it.
My friend is concerned as she has got problems with her cervix, she gave birth to her first daughter at 24 weeks (sadly passed away) and her second daughter was born at 30 weeks (turned two not long ago and fit and healthy). She went into labour at I think 18 weeks for her first daughter, and around the same for her second, I may be wrong though.
Is this normal still? I haven't got a clue about any of this, and it's a rather personal matter, which although we know each other well, it's not an easy subject to talk about.
Sorry again for jumping in on your thread.
My friend had her smear test recently. It came back as adnormal, she had a colposcopy, and that too came back showing something (can't remember what). However they aren't doing anything else about it.
My friend is concerned as she has got problems with her cervix, she gave birth to her first daughter at 24 weeks (sadly passed away) and her second daughter was born at 30 weeks (turned two not long ago and fit and healthy
). She went into labour at I think 18 weeks for her first daughter, and around the same for her second, I may be wrong though. Is this normal still? I haven't got a clue about any of this, and it's a rather personal matter, which although we know each other well, it's not an easy subject to talk about.
Sorry again for jumping in on your thread.
There are 3 grades of CIN and management depends on what grade is found at colposcopy rather than smear.
See here:
http://www.macmillan.org.uk/Cancerinformation/Test...
Pre-term birth is has been found to be linked with LLETZ excision treatment for CIN III but there are also a HUGE number of other causes, that, giving you haven't mentioned your friend has undergone a LLETZ, are much more likely. I can't say on here (without the whole picture and info), why these pre-term labours might be occurring, but if the gynae team are not treating the CIN, then watch/wait is a valid method.
See here:
http://www.macmillan.org.uk/Cancerinformation/Test...
Pre-term birth is has been found to be linked with LLETZ excision treatment for CIN III but there are also a HUGE number of other causes, that, giving you haven't mentioned your friend has undergone a LLETZ, are much more likely. I can't say on here (without the whole picture and info), why these pre-term labours might be occurring, but if the gynae team are not treating the CIN, then watch/wait is a valid method.
HughS47 said:
There are 3 grades of CIN and management depends on what grade is found at colposcopy rather than smear.
See here:
http://www.macmillan.org.uk/Cancerinformation/Test...
Pre-term birth is has been found to be linked with LLETZ excision treatment for CIN III but there are also a HUGE number of other causes, that, giving you haven't mentioned your friend has undergone a LLETZ, are much more likely. I can't say on here (without the whole picture and info), why these pre-term labours might be occurring, but if the gynae team are not treating the CIN, then watch/wait is a valid method.
I don't believe she has had LLETZ, it's not something she has mentioned. She (and I) know it could be a number of reasons why she has given birth early, but understandly she is worried, but if the watch and wait is valid I shall pass it on See here:
http://www.macmillan.org.uk/Cancerinformation/Test...
Pre-term birth is has been found to be linked with LLETZ excision treatment for CIN III but there are also a HUGE number of other causes, that, giving you haven't mentioned your friend has undergone a LLETZ, are much more likely. I can't say on here (without the whole picture and info), why these pre-term labours might be occurring, but if the gynae team are not treating the CIN, then watch/wait is a valid method.
. You've eased my worries a little, thank you
. It was nerve wracking to say the least, but they had to take a biopsy and send it off.
We are now waiting to hear back; they said the results will be with us in about 4 weeks (about 3 weeks from now).
The nurse was very experienced and mentioned that from what she could see, it should be nothing more than a check up in 6 months time.
But, as always with anything medical, it would be best to see what the results say.
So not as anxious as before, but still something to worry about.
We are now waiting to hear back; they said the results will be with us in about 4 weeks (about 3 weeks from now).
The nurse was very experienced and mentioned that from what she could see, it should be nothing more than a check up in 6 months time.
But, as always with anything medical, it would be best to see what the results say.
So not as anxious as before, but still something to worry about.
Gassing Station | Health Matters | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff