smear test result cin 3 :(

purefear

Hi everyone. I am completely devastated. Received letter from cervical check yesterday to contact my GP. She told me my smear test result was cin 3 and that means pre-cancer.
Any grils out there with the same experience? I dont have children yet.
Does cin 3 mean cancer and they are just saying "pre-cancer" to make you feel better?
I cant belive this happened to me. My last smear (2 years ago) was clear. :(:(

Sorry, if this is too serious for this forumi didnt know where to post and i need some help.

purefear

It it belongs to 2personal issues" -please move. I didnt know that one exsist.

Wibbs

No problem at all purefear and I hope you get some support in here.

PS if it helps; http://www.cancerhelp.org.uk/type/cervical-cancer/about/cervical-cancer-screening#2

purefear

Wibbs wrote: »

No problem at all purefear and I hope you get some support in here.

PS if it helps; http://www.cancerhelp.org.uk/type/cervical-cancer/about/cervical-cancer-screening#2

Thanks, i know all the possible websites already and feel sick from just looking at them. I would like to hear from some woman with the same results. I am very very scared.

purefear

Thanks everyone for reading and not writing anything.. Its like "o my god, she has a cancer -its scary and contagious.

Roselm

Hi OP,
Sorry to hear about your smear results.
Have you gone back to the GP yet. They should be able to answer your questions better than us.
However my mum did have an abnormal smear. Not sure if it was cin 3 but she sent her results to the hospital (as the GP had not recommended this and had said to just get it checked again in a number of months). They booked her in for an appointment at the hospital and she had to go back again following this. At this point they put her under a local (I think) anesthetic and removed the abnormal cells. That was it. She is fine and has to go back yearly for the moment for follow up screenings.
AFAIK pre-cancer does not mean cancer. It's abnormal cells that COULD develop into cancerous ones.

BUT please talk to your doctor about this as I only know my mum's case and am not sure how similar it is to yours.

Best of luck.
Hug

purefear

Thanks Roselm. I am only 28 and i dont know why this happend to me. I lead healthy life, i dont smoke, i dont drink to much, i dont have sex with "anybody".
Life is cruel.

Acoshla

OP people probably aren't reading and not replying because of that, if you want to know I only read this because I saw it was moved and wondered why, something completely innocent. And I bet a lot of people would read and not reply because they - just like you - aren't sure what the diagnosis means.

Did your GP explain it any further to you? Or have you an appointment to see them soon? That's who you should speak to about this, not the internet, which I don't mean in a bad way, it's just there can be lot of scary and misinformed info online.

I don't want to be getting close to medical advice here so all I'll say is that if your GP thought it was very serious or urgent that you needed treatment she would've told you to come in straight away, a friend's mother was diagnosed with cervical cancer (which you haven't been just to be clear, I'm just using the example) and they told her they'd start treatment in 4 weeks, my friend was scared and angry but I said to her that they would start sooner if they felt they had to, which is exactly what they later explained to her. (Her mum is fine now btw).

The best thing to do is speak to your doctor, each person is different and people can't give medical advice here so any help/comfort you may get here still won't put your mind at ease until you hear it from the people dealing with you personally.

Best of Luck OP xx

SuperTyper

I had cin3 a few years ago, had to have Lletz to burn off the pre cancerous cells. I have a smear every 6 months. I'm not not even cin1 now a few years later. They are PRE cancerous cells and can be treated.

Hope that helps:)

purefear

SuperTyper wrote: »

I had cin3 a few years ago, had to have Lletz to burn off the pre cancerous cells. I have a smear every 6 months. I'm not not even cin1 now a few years later. They are PRE cancerous cells and can be treated.

Hope that helps:)

Thanks, did you have to go to hospital?
Spadina, i have appoinment for colposcopy in 2 weeks and i thought its pretty quick.

SuperTyper

Originally I had the smear done at the docs, when it came back cin3 I was referred to Holles Street which is were I had the colposcopy and Lletz. When my smear eventually went back to normal, I went back to my GP but then I had an irregular one, followed by another irregular one (not coming up as graded tho), I was referred back to Holles Street.

purefear

Can you have children after those changed cells are removed? I dont have any yet.

SuperTyper

I had a daughter AFTER I was treated for cin3 with the Lletz so it was a big fat YES for me

purefear

I could see my funeral already and dying in hospital. I am not ready for this yet, i really want to live and have family.

SuperTyper

Ah remember it can be treated and it is NOT cancer. They are PRE cancerous CELLS. I did get a fright at first but my cells degraded after the laser treatment. They do keep a close eye on you with the smears every 6 months.

Dont be burying yourself just yet;)

purefear

Thanks Supertyper. Any more comments from grils with the same experience are welcome. This will be the worst weekend in my life..

SuperTyper

Trust me it wont be. Its a minor hurdle.

Cin3 does not mean you have cervical cancer. It means that some of the cells were slightly abnormal and that if they were left untreated, they could go on to develop into cervical cancer.

Acoshla

OP that timescale of treatment was in reference to cancer treatment, not pre cancerous cells, I didn't mean for you to compare the two, sorry.

ABajaninCork

Look - I know you've had a fright, but try not to get too worked up...

I too had a CIN 3. My (UK) doctor explained it fully to me, and told me exactly what treatment to expect.

In my case, because there were two areas of concern, I was given a cone biopsy. OK, it means I have very little cervix left, so if I did get pregnant, all that would happen was the fact I would have to have a stitch inserted in the cervix so that I could carry a baby.

The treatment itself? Well it's not pleasant having an injection in your minnie it's true. But it really didn't hurt. I had an Irish nurse beside me telling jokes the whole time. At one point, the doctor told me to keep still as I was laughing so much!!

I'm very thankful that it was only pre-cancerous cells and that treatment was given in time. I think the expectation is far worse than the reality, TBH.

PM me if you need more info. I'm always happy to help!

LegacyUser

I haven't been through this and I'm not a medical doctor, but I work in the area of cancer research so just wanted to throw in my two cents if it helps at all.

The term 'pre-cancerous' is not used just to make you feel better. You do NOT have cancer. The cells they have detected are abnormal and have the POTENTIAL to become cancerous if left untreated. The treatment you will be receiving will be to PREVENT cancer from forming.

This must all be terrifying but please don't start picturing your funeral Take the treatment and go for all of the checkups that they recommend. So long as they catch the cells in the precancerous stage (through routine smear tests) you should be fine.

purefear

cancerresearcher wrote: »

I haven't been through this and I'm not a medical doctor, but I work in the area of cancer research so just wanted to throw in my two cents if it helps at all.

The term 'pre-cancerous' is not used just to make you feel better. You do NOT have cancer. The cells they have detected are abnormal and have the POTENTIAL to become cancerous if left untreated. The treatment you will be receiving will be to PREVENT cancer from forming.

This must all be terrifying but please don't start picturing your funeral Take the treatment and go for all of the checkups that they recommend. So long as they catch the cells in the precancerous stage (through routine smear tests) you should be fine.

thank you, so smear test can "detect" cancer already and if that would be cancer i would have been told?

ABajaninCork

purefear wrote: »

thank you, so smear test can "detect" cancer already and if that would be cancer i would have been told?

YES!!:)

Aishae

exactly they cannot lie to you or withold information - pre-cancerous is just that, not cancer at all. but they treat the cells - in whatever manner they decide - to prevent them from becoming cancerous. but even then, if the cells were left untreated they wouldnt definitely turn into cancer. its a precaution to try prevent it.

purefear

Thank you all. I am going to get some rest from internet and try to forget about it. Any more informations from own experience are still welcomed.

2SWEET

Try not to panic, look at it this way at least your are senible enough to go for regular smears which is why you can have this cells removed!
After i had my daughter my smear came back cin3 and like you i was in a panic so i rang the colpsocpy clinic and they were kind enough to answer any questions i has and assure me that i had nothing to worry about, Had a letz procedure done, where they use a laser to burn away the abnormal cells, they will numb your cervix first, yes it is uncomfortable but i found it only slightly more so than the actual smear! unluckily for me they didn't get all cells first time so my next smear came back the same, has a second letz and that was an end to it! I've since had yearly smears and so far all have been fine! Had another baby too without any difficulty!
Try to focus on the fact that you're one of the lucky ones and it will all be over before you know it:) Feel free to pm me if you have any questions.

purefear

I was trying not to think about it, but i cant. Is that possible that smear test result was 3 and after colposcopy they will diagnose something worse?

SuperTyper

Cervical cells change slowly and take many YEARS to develop into cancer cells. You have abnormal cells at the minute, not cancer.

At the colposcopy they will examine the cells and decide what treatment you need.

fungun

One input here:

Years ago you would not have known about this until it perhaps developed into cancer and you were ill.
Now you get a nice early detect, and get the problem eliminated before it ever becomes a problem.

I understand your sense of shock, but also raise a glass to modern technology for you can now get over this much more easily than ever possible in years gone by.

LegacyUser

Try not to worry. I had a cin3 about 15 years ago, had a colposcopy and then a cone biopsy to remove the cells (think the Leetz procedure is more typical, the doctor opted for the cone biopsy for reasons specific to my case). All smear tests since then have been clear, and it had no effect on getting pregnant or carrying a baby.

Most abnormal smears are due to the HPV virus, which is very very common in the general public. Most people don't know they have it because usually there are no symptoms, especially for men, who unknowingly pass it to women, for whom it is potentially more serious. Also, often the virus just disappears on its own. Don't know what the infection rate is in Ireland, but the the US it is +50% of sexually active adults.

purefear

Thanks girls. So it looks like its all mens fault. I am just angry with my gynecologist, he never told me how important it is to do regular smear tests. I had one done anyways 2 years ago, but only 4 all together in my life. I will try to think possitive and just hope its really not a cancer yet.

To all sexualy active women out there: Do smear test at least once a year and dont think it cant happen to you!

ps: to all girls who ever had cin3 result : before you did smear test -did you have any problems like irregular bleeding or something else?

ABajaninCork

Doesn't work that way I'm afraid...

AFAIK - between the ages of 25-44, you're offered a smear test every TWO years. I'm not sure how it works here, but in the UK where I'm from, you're sent a letter of invitation to have the smear.

Given your history, once you have the treatment, yes you WILL have yearly smears. This is for two years only. Once the subsequent smears are returned clear, then you go back to every two years.

After the age of 44, then it's every FIVE years for the smear.

But at the end of the day you're right. EVERY sexually active woman should make it their business to have the smears at the appropriate times, and look after their sexual health. If a woman is under the age of 25, then it's VITAL to have the HPV jab. Just look at poor Jade Goody....

Acoshla

purefear wrote: »

Thanks girls. So it looks like its all mens fault. I am just angry with my gynecologist, he never told me how important it is to do regular smear tests. I had one done anyways 2 years ago, but only 4 all together in my life. I will try to think possitive and just hope its really not a cancer yet.

To all sexualy active women out there: Do smear test at least once a year and dont think it cant happen to you!

Every 2 years IS regular smear tests, changes in the cervix happen very slowly so for the majority of women that is an adequate interval to have them at. A lot of harmless abnormalities correct themselves over the course of a few months/year, so if they are done too regularly it might appear that there are abnormalities and that might unduly worry a woman, but they might be minor temporary changes. If at your last test everything was fine your gynae would have no reason to tell you to do another one sooner.

Obviously it's totally up to the individual, you can go every year if you want, I went a few months before I turned 25 when I would've gotten the free one, I wanted to go myself and just had to pay for it, the money wasn't much for peace of mind.

Acoshla

ABajaninCork wrote: »

If a woman is under the age of 25, then it's VITAL to have the HPV jab. Just look at poor Jade Goody....

Just as another bit of info OP Jade Goody had been having abnormal smear test results and irregular periods/pain since she was 16. The reason she became ill in the end was that she did not go to an appointment to have abnormalities removed when she was advised to, a procedure she had done 3 times previously. So hers didn't develop suddenly/was missed by her doctors as some people said, she knew she had abnormal cells that needed to be removed but chose not to have them treated.

purefear

Girls i've had smear test 2 years ago and it was all fine! If i would have one year ago it would be cin 2 probably, not 3! In know we are entitled to free test every 2 years, but i think its worth to spent some money just to be sure nothing bad is happening.
Thanks Spadina for info about Jade Goodie, i read her story while searching about cervical cancer and i was horrified. I have no idea why this poor girl didnt do anything when it wasnt too late!

Acoshla

I think the reason she didn't was just ignorance about it, pure and simple. She didn't know that it would progress to cancer, she was used to having abnormal smears and simply didn't want to go through the procedure again, I read a quote from her that said "They shouldn't come back after they've been removed so I didn't want to do it again", she just didn't get it in all honesty.

ABajaninCork

Spadina - The point I was trying to make was that Jade died through ignorance. I too saw read the article where she thought that one treatment and it was all gone. Let's face it, the poor girl wasn't the sharpest knife in the drawer and paid a very heavy price for it.

The OP is to be congratulated for taking prompt action and trying to educate herself.

Acoshla

ABajaninCork wrote: »

Spadina - The point I was trying to make was that Jade died through ignorance. I too saw read the article where she thought that one treatment and it was all gone. Let's face it, the poor girl wasn't the sharpest knife in the drawer and paid a very heavy price for it.

The OP is to be congratulated for taking prompt action and trying to educate herself.

Oh yeah I totally agree with you, I only quoted you so the OP would see why I brought up Jade Goody, I just didn't want the OP thinking that Jade Goody's illness was missed or anything, it was ignorance as you said yourself.

I too think the OP - like all other women - should be doing exactly what she is doing and trying to educate herself, I just don't want her to scare herself, which happens a lot of people with Jade's story when they don't hear her full story.

LegacyUser

Hi purefear, i'm the same age as you. Three years ago I had cin3. I went to the colposcopy clinic, had a biopsy performed and had to return for the abnormal cells to be burned off. The biopsy and procedure were performed while I was pregnant. I had no complications afterwards and must return for yearly smears for 5 or 6 years. I had to return to the coploscopy clinic about 6 months later for them to check the wound and a follow up smear. I asked the nurse what Cin3 meant and she explained that they were Pre-Cancerous and took a considerable amount of time to change into cancer without treatment, it doesn't happen overnight. That's the reason regular smear tests are so important. Anyway I hope this helps and please stop picturing your funeral

purefear

Thanks girls. That helps a lot. I feel much better after reading your posts.
I am just so worried because i've found cervical cancer syptoms somewhere on internet and i do have some -like irregular bleeding and some pain during the period (i never had any pain before).
Ok, i will just try to be brave- panicing and beeing depressed wont help me..
Thanks again

Acoshla

Don't read online symptoms!! Step back from Google!! Those things can happen for a ton of reasons that aren't related to cervical cancer, trust me, I know, I've had all of them! Like if you had a headache, yes it is a symptom of a brain tumour, but it's also a symptom of a cold, flu, ear infection, sinusitis, neck injury, toothache, lots of things are symptoms of lots of things.

You should probably give your GP a shout tomorrow and just ask her to have a chat about your diagnosis and so on, let her know how worried you are.

purefear

I dont trust her unfortunately. I dont think she cares. I asked her secretary for call back, because i wanted her to explain me what exactly does cin 3 mean. She didnt call me back. I called colposcopy clinic instead -and lady there was lovely and she really made me feel better.

Acoshla

Try your local family planning/well woman clinic, I find them very helpful.

purefear

So, its over, i mean i dont even no where to start... I will only tell you: dont trust your smear test results!
Irish Cervical Check gave me few days of horror.. and not necessery procedure which could affect my future pregnancy.
When i've had smear test taken a month ago i also went to my private polish gyneacologist. She did smear test also, because she said -polish smear test is more complex and gives her more information.
Irish results came unfortunarely first. It was cin 3 as i mention earlier and it made stressed to the limit for few days.
I went to the colposcopy clinic today. To my surpise, there was no doctor to examine me, only nurse and another lady probably more experienced technician. She said it all looks fine to her, but she will do LLETZ procedure because of the smear result.
So she did, Just after i left hospital i've got a call from polish clinic and secretary told me to my surpise that my result was:
Papanicolaou II -which means there are no abnormal cells!!! and cin 0
I couldnt belive it and i was very happy to hear it- just upset i had to go through all this and i just had this LLETZ done. :mad:
I talked to gyneacologist later and she told me its because in irish smears they dont consider infections - and i do have some.
I just cant belive it, but its also great relief.
Dont let them do LLETZ straight away, they should do some more examination and tests and gynecologist should se you. I am just angry with myself i was too stressed and i belived i almost have a cancer.

One more thing:
According to many modern gyneacologists LLETZ procedure is obsolete and what is worse can affect future smears to be false good.

Its hard to trust anybody really and know whats good for you. Thanks again for all posts and good words.

Sorry for my spelling and grammar, i am just so tired after this all.

pog it

purefear wrote: »

So, its over, i mean i dont even no where to start... I will only tell you: dont trust your smear test results!
Irish Cervical Check gave me few days of horror.. and not necessery procedure which could affect my future pregnancy.
When i've had smear test taken a month ago i also went to my private polish gyneacologist. She did smear test also, because she said -polish smear test is more complex and gives her more information.
Irish results came unfortunarely first. It was cin 3 as i mention earlier and it made stressed to the limit for few days.
I went to the colposcopy clinic today. To my surpise, there was no doctor to examine me, only nurse and another lady probably more experienced technician. She said it all looks fine to her, but she will do LLETZ procedure because of the smear result.
So she did, Just after i left hospital i've got a call from polish clinic and secretary told me to my surpise that my result was:
Papanicolaou II -which means there are no abnormal cells!!! and cin 0
I couldnt belive it and i was very happy to hear it- just upset i had to go through all this and i just had this LLETZ done. :mad:
I talked to gyneacologist later and she told me its because in irish smears they dont consider infections - and i do have some.
I just cant belive it, but its also great relief.
Dont let them do LLETZ straight away, they should do some more examination and tests and gynecologist should se you. I am just angry with myself i was too stressed and i belived i almost have a cancer.

One more thing:
According to many modern gyneacologists LLETZ procedure is obsolete and what is worse can affect future smears to be false good.

Its hard to trust anybody really and know whats good for you. Thanks again for all posts and good words.

Sorry for my spelling and grammar, i am just so tired after this all.

Is there any chance you'd have a case against them?

purefear

pog it wrote: »

Is there any chance you'd have a case against them?

Do you think i should? It went through my mind, but i think it would be extremely hard to proof that polish results were actually right. I dont know. I cant belive there is no gyneacologist in colposcopy clinic.
The reason i wasnt waiting for polish results is -i just trusted cervical check and i thought health service is more modern here, that if they stop doing some procedures in europe or in poland -they dont do them here either! Also i've had few worring symptoms and i was so scared of cancer i just let them do anything and trusted them.
Now i read LLETZ can increase risk of early labour. Nice.
Really - do ask more then one professional before you do anything.

purefear

Chlamydia trachomatis -this is what i have unfortunately and they didnt even told me this! I was told its pre-cancer.
I have no words really...

SheRa

Op, Im glad that your mind has been put to rest after what has been a worrying time for you and you are naturally upset. I do not think that you were kept properly informed by your doctor, which would increase your fear and upset, but I am very conscious that you could be giving women reading this an unnecessary fright and may put them off going for a smear.

You metioned that your polish doctor said that

She did smear test also, because she said -polish smear test is more complex and gives her more information

but if this was the case surely it would have given the same result or possibly a more comprehensive one?

You mention that a possible explanation for the difference between Irish and Polish test results is because

its because in irish smears they dont consider infections - and i do have some.

but if the infections could lead to Cin3 surely they should be counted?

Dont let them do LLETZ straight away, they should do some more examination and tests and gynecologist should se you

A LLETZ is a procedure that a woman may need to get done when she goes to get a colposcopy (like a smear but a microscope is used to look inside you), which takes some cells from inside you. An examination is not going to tell a gynae whether or not you should get one done and the only test you could get is the one that youve had already.

Now, I'll take your word for it that a LLETZ could cause early labour. Ive had two abnormal smears and am currently awaiting the results of the third. Should that also be abnormal, I will have to go for a colposcopy, and perhaps a LLETZ. Now considering the whole point of a LLETZ is to remove problem cells in order to prevent cancer, I would happily take my chances of an early labour, should I have children.

Btw just in case the clinic didnt mention it to you, there are a few things that you have to be careful of for a few weeks after the LLETZ, you can get more information here http://www.cervicalcheck.ie/about_cervical_screening/frequently_asked_questions.461.html##after%20treatment%20at%20colposcopy

purefear

SheRa wrote: »

Op, Im glad that your mind has been put to rest after what has been a worrying time for you and you are naturally upset. I do not think that you were kept properly informed by your doctor, which would increase your fear and upset, but I am very conscious that you could be giving women reading this an unnecessary fright and may put them off going for a smear.

You metioned that your polish doctor said that but if this was the case surely it would have given the same result or possibly a more comprehensive one?

You mention that a possible explanation for the difference between Irish and Polish test results is because but if the infections could lead to Cin3 surely they should be counted?

A LLETZ is a procedure that a woman may need to get done when she goes to get a colposcopy (like a smear but a microscope is used to look inside you), which takes some cells from inside you. An examination is not going to tell a gynae whether or not you should get one done and the only test you could get is the one that youve had already.

Now, I'll take your word for it that a LLETZ could cause early labour. Ive had two abnormal smears and am currently awaiting the results of the third. Should that also be abnormal, I will have to go for a colposcopy, and perhaps a LLETZ. Now considering the whole point of a LLETZ is to remove problem cells in order to prevent cancer, I would happily take my chances of an early labour, should I have children.

Btw just in case the clinic didnt mention it to you, there are a few things that you have to be careful of for a few weeks after the LLETZ, you can get more information here http://www.cervicalcheck.ie/about_cervical_screening/frequently_asked_questions.461.html##after%20treatment%20at%20colposcopy

Sorry, but i think i after few days of research i know a little bit more... Maybe its hard for me to explain it properly in english, but :
-LLETZ should only be done after the full diagnosis if ever
-this is ridiculous that they let me go with something as bad as chlamydia and they diagnosed this as pre-cancer!

I am not saying you shouldn do you smear tests, just be more smart then i was and if there is something wrong - go to professional doctor for more examination and tests!

SheRa

This will be my last post is this, as you dont really seem to want to listen to me, but according to the Irish Cancer Society's website
www.cancer.ie/pdf/Types_of_Cancer/cervicalsmear_08.pdf the risk factors are:

There is research to say that your risk of CIN is increased if:
You never had a smear test
You smoke
You have sex from an early age
You have many sexual partners
You have a history of both HPV infections and other sexually
transmitted diseases (genital herpes, Chlamydia, etc.).

so chlamydia can increase your risk of CIN. You said that you were diagnosed with Cin3 and later that you were told it was Chlamydia. Maybe it was both?

Either way, Im not a doctor, I just located information from 2 reputable sites. If you are still concerned about these results talk to your doctor instead of getting increasingly agitated and panicked.

purefear

SheRa wrote: »

This will be my last post is this, as you dont really seem to want to listen to me, but according to the Irish Cancer Society's website
www.cancer.ie/pdf/Types_of_Cancer/cervicalsmear_08.pdf the risk factors are:
so chlamydia can increase your risk of CIN. You said that you were diagnosed with Cin3 and later that you were told it was Chlamydia. Maybe it was both?

Either way, Im not a doctor, I just located information from 2 reputable sites. If you are still concerned about these results talk to your doctor instead of getting increasingly agitated and panicked.

Sorry, but you understand .. nothing. It has nothing to do with my life style and no -i dont smoke, i dont have many sexual partners etc.
Risk of cin is not a cin and it wasnt both. They have just confused cells infected with chlamydia with cancerous cells. Unbeliveable.
Chlamydia can lead to infertility and can be treated with antybiotics not LLETZ!

I am not even infected with HPV virus!

Acoshla

But you have chlamydia, which increases your chances of CIN, regardless of age, number of partners etc.