Cathryn’s Cervical Cancer Story
Date of release: 26 January 2024
Diagnosed with cervical cancer at 26, Cathryn Russell’s world came tumbling down but she praises the NHS cervical screening programme, without which she believes she “wouldn’t be here today.”
Cathryn Russell
Cathryn, 30, was invited for routine cervical cancer screening (also known as a smear test) at the age of 25 as part of the NHS screening programme. She had put it off for a year and was encouraged by close relatives to book her appointment.
Two weeks after her smear test, Cathryn’s results came back with abnormal cells, including some cancerous cells detected. After further checks, she was given her cervical cancer diagnosis.
Prior to her smear test, Cathryn suffered with irregular periods but hadn’t experienced any symptoms. She struggled to come to terms with the news.
“I think at first, I didn’t take it in at all. It felt like I had been hit by a train,” she said.
“My mum had to read the diagnosis out to me repeatedly to make it feel real. All I kept thinking was, where do I go from here? I am so young and have all my life ahead of me.”
As well as ongoing hospital treatment, Cathryn had a trachelectomy (surgery for early-stage cervical cancer that removes the cervix), decreasing her fertility. She was also later told she had Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) but has this under control with medication.
She said: “Obviously having children is not completely ruled out, but it may be a struggle. If I do get pregnant one day, I will be carefully monitored by Gynaecologists at New Cross Hospital.”
Cathryn, from Wolverhampton, can’t thank staff at The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust (RWT) enough for their help during such a tough time.
Sandeep Gosall, Gynae-oncology Clinical Nurse Specialist at RWT, supported Cathryn from her diagnosis.
She said: “One in three women do not take up their cervical screening invite - it’s through this screening that abnormal cells and cancers can be detected at an early stage.
“Cathryn attended her smear, her cancer was diagnosed early, and treatment was successful.
“NHS England has pledged to eliminate cervical cancer in the UK by 2040 and this can only be done if more awareness is raised to highlight the importance of the screening programme.”
Cathryn is now officially negative for high-risk HPV and has received a clear smear test after five years.
She added: “Please go for your smears. The Nurses have seen it all and it may be embarrassing for you but it’s normal for them. It is over within five minutes – and that could save your life.
“Be kind to yourself. If you are invited, do not put this off – let 2024 be the year of your smear. You can do this ladies!”
Cervical screening is a test to check the health of the cervix and help prevent cervical cancer. It's offered to women and people with a cervix aged 25 to 64. Cervical cancer is one of the most preventable cancers if detected early through screening.
Symptoms of cervical cancer include:- Vaginal bleeding that's unusual for you – including bleeding during or after sex, between your periods or after the menopause, or having heavier periods than usual
- Changes to your vaginal discharge
- Pain during sex
- Pain in your lower back, between your hip bones (pelvis), or in your lower tummy
ENDS
- For further information, please email m.aston1@nhs.net
