A girly issue

[Reckless]

Best wishes Buffy!! you'll be O'K. I had a very close friend that went though a similar thing. Boobs though. And her problem turned out to be nothing but a cist. So think positive.

Oh and that finger test for prostrate is probably the single most horrible thing that keeps us fearless, hard nut guys, away from getting it done. ""shiver with fear"". Not looking forward to loosing my virginity to a rubber glove. I no, I'm a wimp!!

[BuFfY]

Umm then why did mine cost me 65 and then 40 for my follow up!?!?!

And today... uhhh 335!!! And then the follow up next week... ughh!

[Mrs Busa Pete]

To be honest, I never even thought of getting a smear done this early in life...

however, I don't really have money to pay the doctor's bills yet, so it may have to wait a while til i get one done... on top of that, I'm shit scared of physicians... (honestly)

but this thread has definately opened my eyes...

You can go to family planning they are in Glenfield and they are free.

[Mrs Busa Pete]

The thought of having one makes me very uncomfortable. Ive already had one health scare this year. Maybe i'll get one next year.....


On a serious note, I know you're right but they really do kinda scare me!

Hels you get yourself and have a smear you have one scare dont leave to have another one.

In the last year and a half i have had 3 ops to remove tumors & cysts after each op they seem to find more so hels get yourself to the doctors for your smear.


Buffy stay postive they told me one lot didn't look good but when the resolts came back they where fine. Will be thinking og you.

[Stella]

I had my first smear at 19 (now 27). Had been sexually active for a year.

Came back abnormal with grade three pre-cancerous cells. That level is as close to cancer as it gets without being cancer, and it aint much of a gap.

Had a wee op to get rid of them. Went under general anaesthetic, had the option. A bit of heavy bleeding afterwards, some yucky gunk to insert for a week, all a bit gross but hey I DON'T HAVE CANCER BECAUSE I HAD A SMEAR!!!

Oh, I can feel a weird shape in my cervix from where they took the bit out. Not something they tell you about at the time. Makes you paranoid when it heals and then feels so very odd.

Now I have to get them done yearly.

Yeah, no one likes spreading their legs for that, yeah it can be uncomfortable, but I hear chemo is worse!

The anxiety beforehand is always worse than the thing that is feared. Believe me, I work for a dentist and see it every day.

Best of luck, Buffy, keep thinking positive. There is always something they can do next!

[Macktheknife]

Umm then why did mine cost me 65 and then 40 for my follow up!?!?!

And today... uhhh 335!!! And then the follow up next week... ughh!

Specialists charge heaps!.... because they can.
Good luck Buffy, had friends and family go thru similar difficulties, don't let it scare you too much, not many things are carved in stone in medicine.
Just stay positive and save the stress, you could use the energy for better things.


For the guys, my grandfather and my father both died of prostate cancer, before they died they had to endure a dual Orchidectomy (ball removal) and other procedures and then undergo radiation and chemotherapy.
All of which can be avoided by a yearly blood test and an occasional digital examination (I do). Swallow your pride, hide your fear and man up to it, not fun I grant you, but it might save your life.
Over 65% of men in their 60's have some degree of prostate abnormality or cancer.

Thanks Buffy for setting a good example, you ROCK.

[Disco Dan]

Anyone want an examination? (sorry I had too)

Dont be a stranger BuFty, keep ya chin up and gimme a yodel sometime yeah?

[MVnut]

Hope your followup test has good results Buffy. Thinking of you.

[Stella]

you know, it is discussions like this that help us women live longer than men.

Go you Buffy for starting it and all the girls (including those who say they are too scared to go) for adding to it

[Curious_AJ]

hmm... some of the places being free.,.. and family planning in glenfield... will take into account...

[xwhatsit]

hmm... some of the places being free.,.. and family planning in glenfield... will take into account...

Drop by the family planning at uni sometime (you're at UoA, no?), they helped me out with a test when I thought I might've got an STI that I shall not name lol. All clear anyway. They seem to do all these things for free. They also give out ultra-mega packs of condoms for free -- enough to last you at least 6 months, even at teenage frequencies.

[Hitcher]

Back on topic, there's a vaccine available now that should virtually eliminate cervical cancer. It requires young women to get the requisite jab prior to them becoming sexually active thus, apparently, creating "moral" dilemmas for parents and caregivers.

[Panther]

While this is true about the vaccine for cervical cancer, it has only recently been released to the public I'd guess it is yet to be 'fine tuned' as young girls in Aus are having some ill effects from it.

[bert_is_evil]

Gardisil(sp?) It's also only available to 18-26 year olds according to the website I was looking at.

Thoughts are with you Buffy!

[BuFfY]

While this is true about the vaccine for cervical cancer, it has only recently been released to the public I'd guess it is yet to be 'fine tuned' as young girls in Aus are having some ill effects from it.

Back on topic, there's a vaccine available now that should virtually eliminate cervical cancer. It requires young women to get the requisite jab prior to them becoming sexually active thus, apparently, creating "moral" dilemmas for parents and caregivers.

My doctor was talking to me about it. And it is for young girls who haven't starting sex yet but it very expensive and they still aren't quite sure it works. And she said she finds it hard to get people to do it seen as they are so young and it hasn't been around long enough to prove that it works well.
But in thinking that... I have already paid the amount of the jabs and I would much rather a jab in my arm than scraping in my.... uhh...