Mum who was diagnosed with cervical cancer urges others to take up screening 'for yourself and your family'
This week (22 January - 28 January) is Cervical Cancer Prevention Week, which aims to raise awareness and increase the number of women getting screened for the preventable disease.
Cervical screening is a free NHS test that helps to prevent cervical cancer, however in some areas, one in three eligible people across England do not attend when invited to go for screening.
Since 2019 the cytology laboratory at Royal Derby Hospital has been the cervical screening centre for the East Midlands region, covering an area reaching as far as Buxton, Northampton, Uttoxeter, and Skegness.
Alison Cropper, Consultant Biomedical Scientist, said colleagues rigorously test samples to detect signs of human papillomavirus (HPV) and any associated cell changes, to prevent cancer from developing.
Alison said: "It is important to not think of the screening test as a test for cancer, because it's not. It is a screening test for pre-cancerous changes.
"When symptoms of cervical cancer develop it is often at a later stage of cancer, but screening allows us to detect minimal changes at an early stage, so that when those changes are found they can be treated and prevent the cancer from developing.
"What is most important to understand is that pre-cancerous changes have no symptoms so it is critical to have your screening test - don’t wait until you get symptoms as it might be too late."
Last year, UHDB processed around 280,000 samples, detecting 51 cases of cervical cancer for women covered by the Trust's colposcopy and gynaecology services.
Alison said the Cervical Cancer Prevention Week is key to increasing the uptake of the potentially life-saving screening programme.
She said: "Even if you have had the HPV vaccine when offered it is still important to attend screening when invited. All of these things are in place to prevent cancer from developing, so take all of the preventative measures you can - it could save your life."
One patient who is a keen advocate of the importance of cervical screening is mum-of-two Michelle Camm, who was diagnosed with stage 3 cervical cancer in July 2020.
Michelle did not experience any symptoms but when attending her screening, HPV was detected, which prompted her to research the signs and symptoms of cervical cancer.
Michelle said the screening offered a good knowledge of what was happening within her body, so when she experienced some unexplained bleeding, she contacted her GP right away, which led to further tests and a procedure called Colposcopy. Michelle was diagnosed with late stage cervical cancer and underwent courses of chemotherapy, radiotherapy and a procedure called brachytherapy.
Michelle said: "To be told I had cancer was devastating. There are no words for how heartbroken I felt. I was frightened, not knowing what to expect or what the future would look like."
Michelle said she always attended cervical screening appointments when invited with a view that "prevention is better than a cure" and urged people to take up the screening when invited, for themselves and their loved ones:
"I was totally healthy, with no symptoms at all - which is why they call it the silent killer, but screening is free and it can save your life.
"You know to check for lumps and abnormalities for other cancers but you cannot see your cervix and you do not know what is happening and whether it's healthy or not, so attend your appointment and get that reassurance.
"If it is the same news I had at least you know and can get the treatment you need. If you don’t want to do it for yourself, do it for your children and your loved ones, otherwise it might be too late."
Michelle has since been given the all clear from the cancer and now attends regular check-ups every six months.
Alison and colleagues from the pathology department will feature alongside Michelle on BBC East Midlands Today at 6pm on Friday 26 January.
What is cervical screening?
The cervical screening test, more commonly known as the 'cervical smear test', checks for the presence of the human papillomavirus (HPV) and any associated cell changes, which can then be treated to prevent cancer from developing. Along with the HPV vaccine, cervical screening is the best way to protect against cervical cancer. Anyone in England with a cervix is automatically invited for cervical screening every three years between the ages of 25 and 49 and every five years for those aged between 50 and 65.
Anyone who is worried about cervical cancer symptoms should speak to their GP at the earliest possible opportunity.