Is there any way you can tell?

Question

Is there any way you can 'check' yourself for cervical cancer, kind of like you should for breast or testicular cancer. I would just like to know if there is any way you can keep an eye on things and what kind of changes you should look out for etc, can any one help advise me?

Answer 1

The only way to check for C/cancer or pre-cancerous cells in the cervix is to have a smear test which will take a sample of the cells from the cervix and is then sent away for testing.

Always be cautious if you frequently get irregular bleeding or spotting, pain during or after intercourse and abnormal discharge.Cervical Cancer is a silent cancer.These symptoms can be non-specific symptoms that can also be an indication of other more common issues. In England women are sent offer letters for smear tests once they reach 25, however you can request a smear test before this time, no surgery will refuse to give you a smear, specially if your sexually active.

I believe in Scotland, smear tests are offered once women reach 20.(I live in the South East of England so I'm not 100% certain of that, but I'm pretty sure it's once women reach 20)

In the US smear tests are offered once a girl reaches 18 or becomes sexually active (which ever comes first) They are slightly more aggressive with the frequency of testing.. in the US it's carried out yearly where as in the UK it's three yearly.

I understand your concern, I personally feel it is wrong in  England at present that women are only offered smear tests once you reach 25... being that the age of consent in the UK is 16, that's almost 10 years after one first becomes sexually active (obviously this is assuming one becomes sexually active at 16, many do at the moment, and many do before that age).

Recently there have been many cases in the newspapers of girls under the age of 25 being diagnosed with Cervical Cancer (I read a very disturbing article in one of the newspapers a few weeks back, about a girl the same age as me (22) who has a son and has just been diagnosed with terminal cervical cancer, her story really upset me, what an unnecessary waste of a young life and her poor son will have to grow up without a mother all because a simple smear test was not carried out. I cried when I read her story)

It is worrying and the government needs to act in response to this. This is the problem with politicians who think they know more medically than Doctors. Smear tests aren't THAT expensive, and it is far more expensive to treat women once (if) C/Cancer develops.

Ring your GP surgery, and simply say you would like an appointment with the Dr/Practice Nurse for a smear test, they shouldn't query you. Again, women aren't refused smear tests before the age of 25, they are just not offered them routinely.

I've starred this, maybe Dr Frank will pick this up. He would be able to enlighten you, but to the best of my knowledge I didn't think surgery's were point black refusing to carry out smears until your 25.

Answer 2

Go see your Doctor

Answer 3

i dont think theres anyway to check yourself. you must have an annual checkup with your gynecologist because thats what he looks for. dont miss those appointments!

Answer 4

No, you'll have to schedule an appointment with your Gyno. They can tell you signs and symptoms that are associated with it.

Answer 5

No, there is no way to self examine for cervical cancer. Cervical cancer is often a completely silent disease which means many women have  no symptoms. When symptoms are present, they usually do not appear until the cancer is more advanced.

Most cervical changes can not be seen or felt, they are microscopic which is why women need to have a Papanicolaou (pap) smear, which allows health professionals to monitor for microscopic changes of cervical cells that suggest that cancer might be brewing.

Answer 6

You can't, but the doctors can. It's called a pap test and every woman should get one, each year, to detect signs of cervical cancer.