I have recently been told that I have cervical cancer. I had a smear test done five years ago which was reported as’ borderline’, so I underwent a further smear tests six months later which I was told was normal. As far as I was aware, everything was fine and I was advised to have five yearly checkups.
I cannot understand how the first smear test could be borderline and then the second test normal. Surely somebody must have reported the second test incorrectly. Can you please advise me?
There are national guidelines for cervical screening intervals which is decided by age. Research has shown most cancers can be diagnosed by screening women at 3 yearly intervals if they are between 25 to 49 years old and 5 yearly intervals if they are between 50 and 64 years old.
According to Cancer Research UK, 3 yearly screening prevents 84 cervical cancers out of every 100 that would
develop without screening, and five yearly screening will prevent 73 cancers out of 100. The reason for the longer interval for women over 49 is that abnormal cells, which can develop into cancer, grow at a slower rate in older women.
Results of smears can be reported as ‘normal’, ’ inadequate,’ ‘borderline’, or abnormal’. An inadequate smear means the cells taken from the cervix could not be seen sufficiently to report on them and another smear must be taken. A borderline result means cell changes were seen which were not severe but as a precaution, a repeat smear is necessary, usually six months later. An abnormal smear means there were cells taken from the cervix showing mild/slight cell changes or moderate cell changes for which treatment may be necessary.
In your case, the original smear was ‘borderline’, so it was appropriate for you to return for a further smear after six months. The follow-up smear was reported as normal and this needs to be investigated. As you can see from the above statistics, not all changes in the cells or cancers will be picked up by screening. However it would be worthwhile obtaining your medical notes and smear tests to see if the tests were correctly reported. I would advise you to commence this investigation as soon as possible. You can also ask the hospital where you are presently being treated, whether they have carried out their own internal clinical audit on your case.
