Cancer victim shares her heartbreaking story to urge women to stop avoiding smear tests and get checked out
SMEAR tests save lives – but thousands of women avoid them because they are too embarrassed to be intimately examined.
A survey by the charity Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust found that a third of women delayed going for a smear due to feeling awkward and 15 per cent would miss a test for a wax or gym class.
Of those women who were embarrassed, the biggest concerns were their body shape, the appearance of their vulva and worries over smell.
Mum-of-one Kate Tonner had never had a smear test and ignored reminder letters because she was too “squeamish”.
But when she finally did get checked out, at the age of 30, it was already too late.
She was diagnosed with incurable cervical cancer which had spread to her back and stomach and she readily admits she was stupid to delay the test.
Here, 38-year-old Kate, who has a 13-year-old daughter, Grace, with husband Ian, 45, a fire officer, shares her story and warns women never to think: “It won’t happen to me.”
Kate says: “I feel so angry at myself because my actions back then mean Grace might grow up without a mum.
“I was 29 and working shifts and Grace was three when I was sent the letter for a smear test. Life was busy. The letter got buried under my list of priorities.
“It was also the fear and embarrassment of being so ex- posed. The thought of being in a room with someone I didn’t know looking at my most intimate parts made me feel vulnerable.
“It was something I said I’d sort out later but never got round to it. I can’t believe how stupid I was to ignore the letter and others I’d been sent over the years.
“I could have avoided years of gruelling treatment and upset by having that simple test.”
Eighteen months after receiving the letter, Kate, from Stratford-upon-Avon, Warks, finally had a smear test.
She says: “It was when I saw my doctor about headaches one day and I mentioned to her that I’d been having some bleeding between periods. I hadn’t thought much about it, though.
“She suggested doing the smear while I was there. I was put on the spot and didn’t have time to get out of it.
“Afterwards I felt stupid for having put it off. It took seconds, didn’t hurt at all and I felt completely at ease.
“The doctor said my cervix looked angry, so I was referred to a gynaecologist for a colonoscopy. Things snowballed from there.”
Five weeks later, in December 2010, Kate was diagnosed with cervical cancer. Five months after that, she learned it was incurable.
She says: “It was a massive shock because at 30, I thought I was too young to have cancer.
“At each hospital appointment, things went from bad to worse.
“The cancer had spread to my back and stomach.
“I had six weeks of chemotherapy and radiotherapy, which made me ill.
WHAT IS CERVICAL CANCER?
MACMILLAN Cancer Support’s Chief Nurse Dr Karen Roberts says: “Cervical cancer is usually caused by a common infection – the human papilloma virus (HPV).
“However, most women who have HPV will not get cervical cancer. It can take many years to develop. Before it does, changes occur in the cells of the cervix.
“These abnormal cells are non-cancerous but can develop if they are not treated.
“Finding and diagnosing cancer early saves lives, so it is vital to attend regular smear tests.
“Women must not let nervous-or self-consciousness put them off. Spotting cancer early can also help avoid invasive treatment. Screening is very effective at picking up early changes.
“You should always see your GP if you have unusual symptoms, such as bleeding after sex or between periods, discomfort during sex or unpleasant-smelling vaginal discharge.”
For support, see or call free on 0808 808 00 00. Also, see jostrust.org.uk, 0808 802 800.
“I’d go for treatment in the morning and sleep until it was time to pick up Grace from school. Looking back, it’s all a blur. When I was told the cancer was incurable, we were devastated. All they could do was try to prolong the time I had left.”
The couple’s plans were cast aside as their top priority became to keep Kate well for as long as possible and to make memories together as a family.
She says: “This wasn’t what we had planned for our future. We wanted to give Grace a brother or sister, but the treatment sent me into early menopause.
“We’d hoped to retire at 50 and travel around America, but instead everything was thrown into turmoil.
“We had set the date for our wedding, but decided to bring it forward to December 2011.
“It was a very emotional day for everyone. Five years on, it’s hard to believe I’m still here.”
Kate, a former police officer, adds: “Now I have check-ups every three to six months, depending on how I’m feeling.
“The cancer is in my lymphatic system so nobody can say when or where it might appear. It’s taken me a long time to accept we won’t have any more children.
“Having the decision taken away from me is incredibly hard to deal with. But now it’s about making memories with Grace.
“She’s amazing and understands what’s happening because she’s grown up with my diagnosis. We’ve drawn up a bucket list of things we want to do.
“So far, we’ve been on a helicopter ride, been on holiday to Disneyland and last summer we had a fantastic time on a road trip around the West Coast of America.
“I’ve flown first class to Abu Dhabi with my best friends and I’ve met Will Young. Next on the list is a hot-air balloon ride.
MOST READ IN FABULOUS
“It’s hard because this whole situation might have been avoided if I’d made the right choice. Having a smear doesn’t hurt and it takes seconds.
“Do it, not just for yourself, but for those around you. My diagnosis has affected Ian, Grace and my family and friends.
“I’ve had 61 rounds of radiotherapy and seven lots of chemotherapy as well as surgery.
“If someone had offered me cancer treatment or a three-second smear, I know which I’d have chosen. Smear tests save lives.”
SMEAR TEST Q&A
THE following are the most common inquiries received by Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust . . .
- CAN I go for a smear test if I am on my period? Ideally your smear test should be on a day when you are not having a period because blood in the sample can affect the results.
- WHAT underwear should I wear? Anything you like. Before the test your health care professional will ask you to remove your underwear and give you a paper sheet to cover yourself. If self-conscious you may want to wear a skirt or bring a shawl to make it more comfortable for you.
- HOW often should I have a smear test? Any female aged between 24½ and 64 will be invited to attend cervical screenings. Women aged 24½ to 49 are invited every three years and women aged 50 to 64 are invited every five years. If you have HIV or any other condition that affects your immune system, you will be screened annually.
- DO I need to have a wax or shave beforehand? That’s up to you. The health professional taking the sample will not mind whether you are waxed, shaved or au naturel. Having hair does not affect the test.
- I AM worried about my body shape, appearance or smell down there: Our cervical screening sample takers are trained health care professionals who do millions of smear tests every year, so they are used to seeing women of all shapes and sizes. If you are worried about the way you look or smell, your smear test could also be a good time to talk about these concerns.
- DOES a man ever do the test? Most cervical screening sample takers are female and when you book your test you can request a female sample taker. If your GP surgery does not have a female nurse or GP, then you can request a chaperone of your choice to accompany you during the test.
- CAN I have sex the same day as a smear (i.e. before or after)? If possible, do not have sex 24 hours before your screening, as sperm, spermicidal gel and lubricants may make it difficult to get a good sample of cells from the cervix. After your test there are no restrictions and you can have sex.
- HOW long does it take for the test? The smear test appointment takes between ten and 15 minutes. The actual test is only a few minutes.
- DOES it hurt? For most women, cervical screening is not painful but it may feel uncomfortable. Everyone is different, so if you do feel discomfort or pain during the test do let the doctor or nurse know. And remember, you can say “stop” at any time. You may have some spotting (very light bleeding) for a day after the procedure but be assured that this is completely normal.
- HOW long will I have to wait until I get the results? Your results will arrive by post two to six weeks after your test.