Ladies - get checked!
Some issues are too important to ignore. Here’s a real life story from one woman who faced cervical cancer, and some simple advice for women everywhere.
Ladies, let’s talk about the dreaded smear test. Eeewww! I hear you cry. The embarrassing visit to the nurse where you are invited to ‘drop ‘em blossom’, lie back and spread those knees exposing your twinkle/foo-foo/mary for all the world to see!! Well, not really the world, just you and a lovely friendly nurse - but it feels like you’ve been asked to drop your undies in the middle of the Albert Hall during an encore!
Some people don’t mind it at all, others dread it, but I’m sure you’ll agree that it’s still a subject rarely discussed even by the best of friends. I’m ashamed to admit that in the past I have been known to put off the appointment for as long as possible. (“Got to cancel sorry – oven needs cleaning!”) However, as we’ve learnt from the highly publicised illness that Jade Goody suffered, putting it off is not a very clever thing to do.
Take it from me…
A few years ago my smear test results came back as ‘abnormal’ so off I trotted back to see the Doc who told me that they need to investigate further and that I had to have some cells removed. I was only 24 years old, newly married, and not experiencing any unusual symptoms in my nether regions. I just assumed it was precaution.
After some minor treatment I was still getting abnormal results so it was off to the General Hospital, this time for a consultation with a special Gynecologist, who recommended I undergo a colposcopy to sort these ‘abnormals’ once and for all! A colposcopy is not a pleasant experience. A slice (like a pie) of the cervix is removed and tested to see how close the abnormal cells are to the slice edges. If they’re close you’re in big trouble and mine were dangling over everywhere!
I was diagnosed with cervical cancer and the only option was to undergo a radical hysterectomy. Jade Goody had the same operation. They caught my cancer at Stage II (it had only reached the neck of the womb). Jade, I believe, had reached Stage IV. There is no Stage V. A radical hysterectomy removes the lymph glands in the groin for testing and, luckily for me, they were cancer clear. Never have I felt so happy to be Welsh! Screening in Wales begins at 20 – if I’d lived in England and had my first smear at 25 I don’t think I’d be here to share my tale.
Don’t delay
The ‘abnormal’ diagnosis had come in the middle of June and by the beginning of September I’d had my hysterectomy. It was that quick. After five years of hospital check ups I was discharged and told I had as much chance of getting cancer again as the person standing next to me. The relief was immense.
Sadly (but not surprisingly after everything) my first marriage ended. I have since re-married someone fabulous who doesn’t care that we can’t have children. I’m still very alive and have a wonderful life. The scary thing about my cancer experience was that there were absolutely NO symptoms.
Cervical cancer is aggressive so as soon as that smear reminder pops through your letterbox I urge you to get down to the surgery pronto! Don’t ignore it, cancel it or delay it. Take a pal or your partner with you for support and whip those lacey under-crackers off, jump on the bed and remember that this tiny inconvenience could quite literally save your life!
To find information and support about cervical cancer, see Cancerbackup, which forms part of Macmillan cancer support.
N.B. This is a personal story of one woman's experience. To read what others have to say on this subject and for more clarification on the medical procedures check out this post on the forums.
Written by Emma Samuel.
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