PAPSMEAR Reminder Thread

[Mum2Romone]

For all the lovely ladies that

A) Have never had a pap smear
b) know they need one but keep forgetting to book an appointment
C) Have let it slip your mind completely being a busy mum
D) deliberately keep putting it off

NOW is the time to take ten minutes to book an appointment that may help save your life. too many women put off pap smears or forget and I have just booked mine...

my last one was before DS so atleast two years.... And it's not ok , especially when cervical cancer runs in the family.... i can't believe I left it so long and to think we are trying for another baby and then I would it it off even longer .....

So do you need one ? join me in booking your appointment today !

[shellbell3]

I was due April. I keep putting off, can't take the kids, then AF comes round always some excuse! Waiting for DF to start holidays then definately going to book in. We have bit history too, mum had to have hysterectomy at 37.

[beckoes]

great thread, My GP who ive had for years knows how bad i am at having mine, canceled appointments etc that last time i went to see her for an unrelated issue she sprung it on my and made me have one right there and then! but that was my first in about 4 years!!!!!

[boomba]

I to have put mine off....for such a silly reason...I dont want to go to my lcal dr as I dont feel comfortable having it done there.

[Beach Mama]

I put mine off for years and years and ended up needing treatment for CIN2 and 3, so as much as I hate them I go regularly. I am back to 2 yearly now but still go yearly because I am paranoid. Boomba I was the same, I didn't like going to my local Dr and through a recommendation now go to a wonderful lady at a local womens clinic. Maybe you could do the same and find someone you feel more comfortable with? Especially if it is a family planning or womens clinic. They are just wonderful. Google and call now chickies xox

[luna moth]

Get in there and spread your legs girls....

(I prefer pap smears to cleaning the oven But it's just one of those things you have to do...)

[CinderToriella]

Ok while while are on the subject of them

Recently on here iv heard talk of PS not always being done properly or the wrong results from the Dr not taking the right smear or something,anywho i had one done recently all clear,but now its got me thinking should i go request another done to make sure that is really is clear? Yeah i know im freaking myself out

[LionsandBears]

Already have mine booked for next week. Lucky me...

I'm getting my skin checked over at the same time.

[smiles4u]

Ok while while are on the subject of them

Recently on here iv heard talk of PS not always being done properly or the wrong results from the Dr not taking the right smear or something,anywho i had one done recently all clear,but now its got me thinking should i go request another done to make sure that is really is clear? Yeah i know im freaking myself out

shell you can ask when in your GP's room before undressing that you would like a *ThinPrep Test* too (it's apparently meant to pick up better detection) and it comes with a fee $ (it use to be about $25 not sure how much now) ... it's just an extra swab they do on top of the already conventional papsmear test your GP will do ... i use to ask for this every single time i had a papsmear for years & years but when i moved to the country a few years ago my GP here was strong about not doing a thinprep too and she kept telling me i didn't need one BUT to be honest it still doesn't feel right for me not too but anyway at least i DO have my papsmear !


Another thing too gals that doesn't hurt to do is what my GP does for me ... every time i have a papsmear she also uses that appt to check me all over for any skinspots ... lucky i did that last time cause turned out i had one spot turning cancerous and had to have it removed. So ask your GP if she/he thinks it's worth doing too when having a papsmear. It seriously only takes them about another 5mins to do


(*snap* Tash just noticed you mentioned the skinspot check )

[CinderToriella]

Oh thanks Smiles , i am going to ask my DR about it

I have an appoitment to get my skin checked at a skin cancer clinic (they bulk bill my one) phheww next week ,its very important as well.But yeah GP can do it as well

[smiles4u]

Oh thanks Smiles , i am going to ask my DR about it

I have an appoitment to get my skin checked at a skin cancer clinic (they bulk bill my one) phheww next week ,its very important as well.But yeah GP can do it as well

WOW Shell they bulk bill at your skin cancer clinic that's awesome ... well in that case gals i would recommend DO your check there instead as i felt the surgeon who was the one that checked me over 'again' was better and also he had these special googles he wears that the GP clearly doesn't have and when the GP cut a biopsy of the main spot of concern the surgeon said she didn't cut it all out properly and didn't have it all to test (and my GP is a great GP but clearly not a super skinspot specialist)


(and if any of you ever need to have a skinspot removed i highly recommend a Plastic Surgeon and not a regular surgeon cause they will make the scar look as pretty as possible, but keep in mind plastic surgeons cost more $$ ... I went to the SkinSpot clinic here and it cost me nearly $400 just to remove 'three' small spots, health insurance didn't cover it ).

>>>>> DON'T FORGET GALS WHEN BOOKING YOUR PAPSMEAR APPOINTMENT YOU NEED TO TELL THE RECEPTIONIST IT'S FOR A PAPSMEAR TEST SO SHE CAN BOOK IT AS A DOUBLE BOOKING and not a regular length booking <<<<<<

[Shanti]

I'm getting mine at my 6 week post natal check up with my GP after this bub is born. I refuse to get one whilst pregnant. I think they are really important and once you've had a baby, it's not a big deal having a papsmear anyway (as in, less embarassing as everyone has already seen your bits LOL)

[mrsmac]

What a great thread.
My MIL was in hospital last week having precancerous cells removed which were found at her papsmear. She is 59 so not terribly old.
A friend's sister in NZ discovered she had VERY advanced cervical cancer at 35, she had put off getting pap smears, she is alive still but with lots of complications "down there".

[ShootingStar]

I agree! I was a year overdue at the beginning of this year and something was nagging at me to get it done as we were going to TTC. Well, lucky for me i did as it came back with high risk CIN3 precancerous cells (and im only 30). I ended up having to have surgery to have these removed in April. My recent pap smear since has come back all clear, but now have to have them every 6 months. Had i not have had that pap smear and then just went on to TTC who knows when i wouldve had my next one and those cells could have turned into cancer!

So get it done! Stop putting it off because its annoying and uncomfortable and embarrassing.. mehh.. those doctors have looked at HUNDREDS of hoohaas and done THOUSANDS of pap smears.. they dont think twice about doing it. And not to mension alot of woman who put it off have given birth! And theres nothing more uncomfortable than pushing out watermelon out the size of a lemon. So if you can do that, a pap smear is a walk in the park... and well.. it just may save your life!

[Fleur]

(I prefer pap smears to cleaning the oven But it's just one of those things you have to do...)

Me too! I would trade pap smears for oven cleaning any day if I could... unfortunately you all have to go get your own

My first test at 18 came back with pre-cancerous cells, I had them 6 monthly for a few years & now every 12 months. The GP tells me I don't need to but I feel better doing it that way... I stress less.

[Indadhanu]

Um. I'm overdue by ... a lot ... but my doctor is not open now! Remind me tomorrow!

[trishalishous]

Excellent idea!!!
As someone who was diagnosed with cervical cancer as a 16yo virgin, I urge all women to be check regularly.

[sconeonamission]

I was due for one, but am pregnant at the moment. I went to my (public hosp) hospital ob appt and she said "oh, you're due for your PS, do you want to do it now?" All done at once! I think that ob saw all of me that day!