Abnormal smear

[shellywelly]

Three weeks ago my friend went to the doctors to have her smear. Last week the results came back abnormal and she has got an appointment to go to the hospital tommorow. I always thought that having an abnormal smear was quite common and that you would normally only be referred to a hospital if you had an abnormal smear twice in a row. My friend thought this too and now she is really worried because they have referred her straight to hospital. She is only 26 by the way. Any advice welcome.

[meglet]

Tell her not to worry too much, see what the hospital says. My friend was much the same age when she had an abnormal smear and had to have some laser treatment. It wasn't pleasant and a bit uncomfortable but really not bad.

[daffy654]

She might need a colposcopy so the doctor can make a more definitive diagnosis. I have had one and my sister and niece have also had it done. Its really nothing to panic about.

[spudqueen]

I was about 24 when I had an abnormal smear. Like meglet I too had to have laser treatment, but I've been clear now for 20 years, so please, don't panic.

[aka pixi]

I had to go to hospital in october last year after getting abnormal results. I had been getting mild results for a number of years always followed by a normal result on my follow up smear. My last two smears went from mild to moderate abnormal results which is why they had me in. I was pretty worried about it but the doctor at the hospital told me it was routine practice to get you in and sort it out asap. I had laser treatment and a biopsy done which showed the cells were pre-cancerous but thankfully the results from it also said 'full excision of cells'

The procedure didnt hurt at all, the staff were fantastic and apart from a slight bit of aching for the rest of that day I wouldnt have known I had had it done.

I hope you mate gets on okay, please tell her to try not to worry :)

[aka pixi]

ps I wasnt trying to scare your mate there by mentioning pre-cancerous cells, just saying that mine was worse than they thought and it was still sorted out in 20 minutes :)

[shellywelly]

My friend had her colpolscopy today and they took a biopsy. She has to wait a few weeks for the results but hopefully she should be fine.Thankyou for all your replies.

[Memore]

I had all of this when i was 19 had one abnormal smear and had laser treatment that was about 19 years ago and been fine ever since it is quite common but sounds scary when you hear the word cancerous cells but it is not at that stage and gets caught very early and it doesnt necessarily mean they will go cancerous it just means they are not normal - tell her not to worry as she did the right thing going for a smear in the first place and is being treated