January is Cervical Cancer Awareness Month

This week is Cervical Cancer Prevention Week. There are a LOT of different cancer prevention and awareness weeks, but this one is particularly important to me. Here’s why.

DID YOU KNOW?

Studies by Cancer Research UK shows that more than 8 people every day are diagnosed with cervical cancer. And like most cancers, early detection is crucial. In fact, approximately 95% of patients with stage 1A cervical cancer survive without the cancer returning for at least 10 years following treatment. I should know. I’m one of them.

Which brings me to the point of this blog post. I’m not normally someone to talk about myself, but where this is concerned, I’m kind of pivotal to the story. And if me sharing my experience convinces even one woman to attend her smear test, then it’s worth it. 

2012

I started getting smear tests before they changed the screening age to 25. Subsequently, I have been having them since I turned 18. In 2012 I attended a routine smear test. I’d experienced a tiny amount of spotting after sex and some grumbly pains ‘down there’, but nothing that flagged up any real worries or concerns. I’d had difficult deliveries with both my children that meant that these weren’t particularly unusual for me. Several weeks later when the results from my smear came through, I was fairly shell-shocked to be advised that I had CIN-3 changes in the sample that they took. 

CIN stands for cervical intra-epithelial neoplasia – abnormal changes of the cells that line the cervix. These are graded from 1 to 3 with 3 being the most severe. CIN-3 cell changes are normally caused by certain types of human papillomavirus (HPV) and while they aren’t cancer, they can become cancer and spread to healthy tissue nearby if they aren’t treated. If you are found to have CIN-3 changes, it’s likely that you’ll be booked in for a procedure called a Large Loop Excision of the Transformation Zone – or LLETZ for short. This is a type of surgery, performed under local anesthetic that removes a small part of the cervix and can be used to removal the abnormal cells as well as to diagnose early stage cervical cancer. I won’t go into details about what happens during LLETZ as it’s pretty grim, but I underwent the procedure a few weeks later and had a section of my cervix removed and sent off for biopsy. 

Cancer has no age limit

A few days later I had a call from the doctor asking me to go in for an appointment as soon as possible. I don’t remember most of the conversation, but I do remember leaving feeling completely numb. Although I’d guessed it wasn’t going to be great news, I still wasn’t prepared for them to tell me that they had found cancerous cells in the sample that they took. A tiny amount, but they were cancerous all the same. I was 29 years old. My kids were 5 and 2. I’d attended smear tests routinely before, and never been late for one. It had taken less than 3 years to go from a perfectly normal, healthy smear test result to the start of cervical cancer.

I was very lucky. I was scheduled for a procedure called a cone biopsy which is another surgery, done under general anesthetic, where they would cut out and remove the cancerous cells. As with most things with me health-wise, things weren’t as straightforward as we hoped. As a result, I ended up having most of my cervix removed which meant that I could no longer go on to have any more children. But they managed to get all of the cancerous cells without me needing to have chemotherapy or any further treatment. I have been closely monitored since and am now 7 years free from cervical cancer and back to only needing smear tests every 3 years. 

BUT WHAT IF?

But I can’t help thinking what a different story it might have been if I had delayed my smear test or didn’t attend altogether. It’s estimated that only around 70-73% of eligible people attend their cervical screening appointments. Many people who receive an abnormal result fail to attend treatment, scared about what might happen. Jade Goody, a name we all know, ignored a letter asking her to return to have abnormal cells removed from her cervix that had been picked up during a routine smear test. She didn’t and as we know, her story ended in tragedy. Cancer didn’t wait 3 years to develop in my body. It sure as hell wouldn’t have waited to spread its poison. As I say, I’m one of the lucky ones, but only BECAUSE I went to my smear test appointment. 

 Please, PLEASE don’t put off your smear test

A smear test is never going to be the highlight of anyone’s week. It’s embarrassing, it’s cold and yes, it feels a little degrading to be laid down on the couch, a giant lamp shining on your nether region, illuminating it in all its fleshy glory. Let’s face it ladies, the tiny blue bit of paper they give you as some sort of modesty shield is the most pointless thing ever is about as pointless as the words ‘share bag’ on a packet of chilli heatwave Doritos. Nevertheless, a smear test, performed on schedule DID save my life. And it could save yours too. If you don’t know when your last smear test was, if you are overdue yours or you have any worrying symptoms associated with cervical cancer (see below) – speak to your doctor and demand to be seen. Covid-19 may have caused disruption in normal healthcare services, but the NHS IS still open for cancer screening and, as we know, early detection is everything when it comes to whooping cancer’s ugly arse. This is one of the reasons I’m thrilled to be working with a company that is developing other methods of early cancer screening – which could make detection even simpler. I also regularly promote smear tests on my personal social media channels and advocate on behalf of women who are having problems accessing them.

SYMPTOMS OF CERVICAL CANCER

These signs don’t necessarily mean you have cervical cancer, but you should arrange to speak to your doctor and get a smear test if you experience any of the following:

-       Spotting or bleeding between periods

-       Menstrual bleeding that is longer and/or heavier than usual

-       Pain during sex

-       Bleeding after intercourse or a pelvic exam

-       Bleeding after menopause

-       Unusual changes to vaginal discharge

-       Unexplained, persistent pain in your lower back and/or pelvis

If you would like more information about cervical cancer, Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust (www.jostrust.org.uk) is a fantastic resource to look at. And if you want to talk to someone in confidence, I am always at the end of a message or email.