r/CervicalCancer

Recently, I had to get a chest X-ray, and the technician asked if there was any way I was pregnant. I just sat there and thought about it for a second, and then just answered I don’t have a uterus, so no (I had a hysterectomy years ago; I was young when I had my hysterectomy, so I figured people didn’t understand that I could have had one). So, to other ladies and/or nurses or doctors, what is the funniest comeback you have heard to that question? Sometimes you need to laugh about it. I also have a shirt that says feral and sterile and has a raccoon on it; I love wearing it at the gym.

I was originally diagnosed stage 3C2 in Jan 2025. I did 6 rounds of cisplatin, 35 rounds of radiation & 3 brachy treatments. All treatments finished at end of May 2025.

Insurance denied a post treatment pet scan as “not medically necessary.” I had a CT done that showed I was NED. Another 3 months passed & it was time for scans again. Insurance denied the pet again. I begged my oncologist for a pet scan. Really because I just wanted reassurance. Oncologist said there was nothing she could do if insurance denied the pet request. This next CT showed I was NED. The whole thing happened a 3rd time. Again I requested a pet. It was denied, but the 3rd CT showed NED. During this whole time I have been in a lot of pain. I kept being told it was due to scar tissue & radiation. It “should go away” or become not as bad the further I got from treatment.

A couple months ago, I switched oncologists because I was frustrated with the lack of care (a lot more than just not helping with getting a pet). The first thing my new oncologist said was, we need a pet scan. I explained how insurance denied & my previous oncologist that there was nothing I could do. My new dr looked at me like I was crazy & said, of course there is! She said she just has to ask for a peer to peer review to overturn it. She submitted the request. Insurance denied. She requested a peer to peer review & the pet scan was approved.

I just got my results & I am in shock. I am not NED and the pet scan report shows cancer has spread. It’s spread a lot. It’s in my:

Left cervical/supraclavicular lymph nodes
Mediastinal/posterior chest lymph nodes
Retroperitoneal/abdominal lymph nodes
Pelvic/iliac lymph nodes
Right adrenal gland

I haven’t met with my oncologist yet because I saw the results on MyChart yesterday. I am waiting for her call.

It hadn’t hit me yet. I feel nothing. I’ve only told one person so far. I am not sure what to do next, but I feel like I was failed as a patient & as an insured.

I don’t know what to do or think. Anyone have any thoughts? Thank you for reading 🩷

The ladies that have had hysterectomies for stage 1, have you experienced ovarian cysts? I had a scan and it showed a 3.5cm cyst, went to get an ultra sound and it’s gone now which is great. I don’t think I’ve ever had ovarian cysts before so this is new to me. When you get them do they cause you pain?

My pain is the reason I got the scan in the first place so just curious on your experiences.

Has anyone here experienced spotting after brachytherapy? I’m already 2 weeks post treatment and my spotting has been intermittent. How long will this last?

They took 4 different samples for my biopsy :

A. Cervix, 4:00, biopsy:
High-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (CIN 3).
Extension of dysplastic epithelium into endocervical glands.
** **
B. Cervix, 6:00, biopsy:
High-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (CIN 3).
Extension of dysplastic epithelium into endocervical glands.
** **
C. Cervix, 10:00, biopsy:
Superficially invasive poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinoma. High-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (CIN 3) with extension into endocervical glands.
** **
D. Cervix, 1:00, biopsy:
Absence of dysplasia.
Moderate acute and chronic cervicitis.
** **
E. Endocervix, curettage:
Rare detached fragments of dysplastic cervical epithelium in a background of mucus, blood with acute and chronic inflammation.

On the superficially invasive poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinoma —> how fast is it growing and what stage of cancer am i at?

Doctor schedule me for cone biopsy on 06/30/26 and hopefully it clears out

She pushed off the MRI for now because i don’t have insurance so should i be concerned. I’m just worried because of how fast it has changed as i did colposcopy 6 months ago and it was still in CIN2-3 now it has turned into cancer in a span of 6 months???? Even tho the doctor told me it could take 10 years to turn into cancer