I'll try not to ramble too much but I feel as if I want to highlight the issue and my experience with early detection of cervical cancer and how important it is to get your smear test done. Ireland's National Cervical Screening Programme provide free smear tests to women aged 25-60, every 3 years for women aged 25-44, every 5 years for women aged 45-60.
I am not telling this story for sympathy story as I am WELL aware that this is nothing compared to what some women go through. It is just something that happened to me and something I wish I had known more about.
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When I turned 25 in February 2017, I was due my free smear test. Like most people my age cervical cancer was not something I had worried about or even crossed my mind. I thought 'Let's get the smear test over and done with' and assumed that the results would come back negative just like most of my friends.
I got two letters to remind me of my smear test, BUT I was working full time most days in Sligo town saving all my money for America and did not have the time nor did I want to make the time to go see my doctor 30 minutes away (foolish I know).
I marked it in my diary several times to make an appointment in Sligo with a doctor recommended by the Cervical Check website.
Eventually in July I booked the smear test and went along to my appointment. The doctor whom I had chosen was not the happiest that I was not a regular patient of hers (even though she was one of the first doctors recommended on the list but that is another story for another time).
Now a smear test is not painful nor it does not take long to perform. My friend had prepped me for what to expect and had explained that even if I did get abnormal results back from my test, her doctor had reassured her that it was quiet common and most women have a few abnormal cells.
The doctor proceeded with the test nonetheless and when I mentioned having abnormal tests results, she told me that if they come back abnormal then something is 'seriously wrong'.
*QUE PANIC STATIONS*
Regardless of the brief panic I reassured myself that everything would come back okay.
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Fast forward a few weeks later, the smear test was at the back of my mind but with less than a week and a half to go until I was moving to New York (did I mention I moved to New York??) for the year I got a call from the doctor.
Before I continue here are some facts from Cancer Research UK that are highly informative.
"If you have an abnormal cervical screening test result, you have changes in the cells covering the neck of your womb (cervix). This is not cancer. But if these abnormal cells are left untreated, there is a risk that some of them could develop into cervical cancer in the future."
"Many mild and moderately abnormal cells will go away on their own without treatment. Removing cells that are pre-cancerous can prevent cervical cancer from developing. If left untreated, pre-cancerous cells may progress to cancer cells, but that can take 10 to 15 years."
So back to the story....
My mother picked me up from work that day and I got a call in the car from the doctor who told me she received my test results and informed me that I had 'highly abnormal cells present around my cervix'. This meant that I would have to go for a Colposcopy - which is a procedure to closely examine your cervix, vagina and vulva for signs of any cervical disease.
Now keep in mind I had roughly 11 days until I was leaving the country for a year, flights booked, apartment paid for which I mentioned to the doctor who strongly advised me to get it seen immediately and not to leave it for a year!
*QUE PANIC STATIONS*
The next few hours I cried a lot, stressed, cried some more. The thought of cancer, let alone cervical cancer had never even entered my mind and the fact that it has claimed so many women's lives made me even more anxious.
"In Ireland, approximately 300 women in Ireland are diagnosed with invasive cervical cancer each year and over 90 women die from the disease. Cervical cancer is the second most common cause of death due to cancer in women aged 25 to 39 years. In 2014, 95 women died from Cervical Cancer (statistics are taken from the Irish Family Planning Association (IFPA).
I won't bore you with the smaller details but long story short after ringing the local hospital I found out it would be an 8 week waiting list, time I didn't have as I was moving my whole life to America in 11 days. So along with my parents we paid to go private and I was seen less than 24 hours after I had gotten the results.
I took the next day off work and had the Colposcopy done in a private clinic. A Colposcopy as I explained above is a more invasive smear test. Before I had it done the specialist told me if there was a large amount of abnormal cells then I would have to have a Loop Electrosurgical Excision Procedure (LEEP).
"LEEP a treatment that prevents cervical cancer. A small electrical wire loop is used to remove abnormal cells from your cervix. LEEP surgery may be performed after abnormal cells are found during a Pap test, colposcopy, or biopsy."
I ended up having this procedure done due to the high percentage of abnormal cells which meant I wasn't allowed to fly for four weeks in-case of bleeding/hemorrhaging that could have happened on the long haul flight to America.
*CUE MORE TEARS*
The aftermath.....
I would say I have a high pain thresh-hold and I thought the whole procedure, both the Colposcopy and LEEP was pain free and there was no uncomfortable feeling after having it done. However my first period after this procedure was extremely uncomfortable which is normal and you are not allowed to use tampons as the risk of infection is extremely high as well as abstaining from sex for 8 weeks.
I returned to my own doctor a week and a half later and told she me I had made the right decision to go private and explained what happens from now on.
After the procedure she explained that in the following weeks and even up to a year after the procedure in case of pregnancy there would be a high chance of miscarriage as well as other complications. But once the cervix is fully healed everything should return to normal.
After the procedure she explained that in the following weeks and even up to a year after the procedure in case of pregnancy there would be a high chance of miscarriage as well as other complications. But once the cervix is fully healed everything should return to normal.
As of now I have to go for a smear every 6 months for the next 2 years to make sure everything is okay or if any more abnormal cells have returned which scares me but it is something I won't be putting off ever again!!
I wrote this post even with all the personal and physical bits included because I wish I had known a bit more about what happens and I wasn't even aware of the after math and the other procedures I might have had to go through.
I wish I had gone for my smear test when I got the letter immediately but you live and you learn and thankfully everything seems to be going okay so far.
Click here to find about how and when to apply for your next or first smear test:
Like I said at the start I am aware that this happens many women and I am lucky that I was able to pay to go private but if it makes one person aware about it then job done!
Look after yourself ladies, your health is your wealth.
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