Ain't Nobody Here Posted October 31, 2007 Share Posted October 31, 2007 One of my colleagues at work has just been told she's got cervical cancer. She's getting a scan tomorrow to see if she has to have a total hysterectomy or not. We're all totally shocked and can't stop thinking about it. She had her 27th birthday yesterday. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Couperwife Posted October 31, 2007 Share Posted October 31, 2007 oh no isnt it a shock when people you know are poorly. my friends SIL has just had a masectomy but now she is clear of breast cancer (shes 30) she now has to get through the treatment and after stuff. - the hard bit I hope your friend is ok (as ok as she can be) hugs cathy x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted October 31, 2007 Share Posted October 31, 2007 Oh no Vicki, that is sad. She will need all the support you can give her - just pray it has been caught early. It is one form of cancer that is usually treated successfully if caught in time. (((Hugs))) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rona Posted October 31, 2007 Share Posted October 31, 2007 How awful for her and everyone around her. There are some wonderful drugs available now so fingers crossed they have caught it in time. A nudge for everyone to have a regular smear test. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted October 31, 2007 Share Posted October 31, 2007 How dreadful...and so young. All the best to her. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Helen&Lee Posted November 1, 2007 Share Posted November 1, 2007 How sad. I hope the scan today will give her a bit of hope, she must be devastated. ((Hugs)) Helen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tenzin Posted November 1, 2007 Share Posted November 1, 2007 Deep sigh ," let's hope some light apears soon for her , keeping positive is very important for her now and lot's of love / friendship . xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lisa33 Posted November 1, 2007 Share Posted November 1, 2007 I hope your friend will be OK. I can't imagine how devastated she must be. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ziggy Posted November 1, 2007 Share Posted November 1, 2007 Oh no... that is very sad news I hope that with positivity, support, treatment and a lot of resilience and patience all goes well for your friend... My mother in law had a tumour removed two years back, and was told afterwards she was all clear, and we just found out that, well, she isn't all clear, which is a shock to all of us... It's a time when you realise how lucky we are to live in a era of advanced and readily available medical care... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted November 1, 2007 Share Posted November 1, 2007 It really is a shock isn't it? let's hope that she gets prompt treatment and recovers. I had treatment some years back for something similar and now have yearly smear tests. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popcorn Posted November 1, 2007 Share Posted November 1, 2007 Oh Vicki, that is really sad to read. Lets hope they have caught it in time and can offer her drugs. She must be feeling just rotten. Very bestest wishes to her - and to you for being so empathetic for her. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buffie Posted November 1, 2007 Share Posted November 1, 2007 So very sorry. My cousin was younger than this when she was diagnosed and the great news is she turned 43 this year. So positive vibes your way. cancerbackup.co.uk is a wonderfully informative (positive) website. Hope all goes well for her, BBx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aunty e Posted November 1, 2007 Share Posted November 1, 2007 Poor girl. I do hope she doesn't have to have a hysterectomy. A timely reminder to book myself in at the well woman clinic for a smear test. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FORENSICA Posted November 1, 2007 Share Posted November 1, 2007 Very sad I think that the problem is that here are no gynaecological surgeries as we have in my country. There, every woman goes at least once a year for a check up, including a smear test and a UV scan. I reckon that 3 years wait is rather too long. Anyway, during summer I went to my doctor back at home and he actually found something slightly out of order, and so I am back in one week's time for a colposcopy. Fingers crossed that it will be ok. Here, I would be due for a smear test earliest in March 2008 + at least 2 months waiting for results! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SarahJo Posted November 1, 2007 Share Posted November 1, 2007 Hope she does not have to have a hysterectomy. I had a brush with this before having children - similar age, and had surgery. I am still checked every year, and have had 2 healthy boys since. Though did keep my legs crossed, as with my 1st, some junior doc informed me that at 20 weeks my baby would probably fall out . Good support will help - big hugs xox Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cate in NZ Posted November 1, 2007 Share Posted November 1, 2007 My youngest sister had a diagnosis of cervical cancer last year and she's absolutely, completely fine now. No hysterectomy, no nothing . There are other options to hysterectomy by the way, so if the surgeons are suggesting hysterectomy and she's not yet had children don't let be pushed into hysterectomy without fully exploring all the options. Surgeons tend to leap to hysterectomy as it's still the simplest option for them, but it's not always the best option for the woman concerned. I really hope that your friend is OK, and that the scan went well. I'd also recommend cancer bacup, as mentioned by Buffie. They're superb Thanks to smear screening cervical cancer these days is rarely invasive or a serious problem, scary, very for the woman concerned, the word cancer is enough to scare the pants off the most of us, but it really shouldn't be a horror scenario. Forensica, I can see where your comments are coming from, and I do agree, but 3 yearly smears are adequate for most women since abnormal cells on the cervix usually do grow very slowly, and in fact very early changes "borderline changes" can be very hard for cytologists to determine, so whilst it sounds dreadful it's often worth waiting 6 months or so from the very first mildly abnormal smear as they often resolve spontaneously. High risk women do get annual NHS smears, anyone reporting symptoms that could suggest problems with the cervix will get an early one, and of course anyone can pay to have them done privately, as often as they like . The cytology screening service has also improved massively recently with the introduction of liquid based cytology, and they're poised to start giving teenage girls Gardasil vaccination to protect against HPV, thus reducing the risk of cervical cancer. Both massive leaps forward in the detection and prevention of this disease . If the NHS had additional resources for screening services I think that we should focus on men and the ridiculously high risk of prostate cancer that older men have, or maybe extending the breast cancer screening services for women. Starting at 50, ending at 64, and only providing mammograms 3 yearly means that too many women are missed. And breast cancer is a lot more prevalent than cervical cancer . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
layla Posted November 1, 2007 Share Posted November 1, 2007 Be possitive, lets hope she will be fine Hugs Layla Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted November 2, 2007 Author Share Posted November 2, 2007 Thanks everyone for your support & sympathy. Latest news is that she had an internal exam under anaesthetic - there is a 5cm tumour. She now has to wait until next Friday (can't believe they're making her wait that long) until she gets the MRI scan. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...