When Sarah Waters jetted off on holiday to Spain she had no idea of what was awaiting her on her return. Shortly before heading off on her sunshine break, the 31-year-old, from Prescot on Merseyside, had attended a routine smeal test.
But not anticipating any issues she then went on her holiday - only to return home to find "urgent letters" on her doormat. These letters told her that issues had been discovered with the test she had taken and she was referred to hospital.
It was only then that Sara discovered she had a rare form of cervical cancer. She told the Liverpool Echo: “I was in utter shock as I never thought it would be me that got cancer, especially at this age – it didn’t hit me for some time.
"I still can’t believe it now, even having gone through surgery and treatment.” Following the diagnosis on June 22 last year Sarah underwent a full hysterectomy towards the end of 2022.
However her ordeal wasn't over as doctors discovered the cancer was "more aggressive" than they thought. They found it had started to spread and told Sarah it was at stage three.
Sarah believes that there should be more awareness and education around the importance of detecting HPV, and its risk of developing into cervical and gynaecological cancers. She said: “Often online it says that cervical cancer is slow growing, and can take up to a decade to develop.
"However, it hasn’t been that way in my case, as it is the fast growing type. So even if you have no symptoms or your last smear was normal, it doesn’t mean that your next one will be. Even if you don’t have cancer, if a screening has picked up any abnormalities, it gives the medical experts the chance to treat it before it develops into cancer.”
Sarah has told her story on social media with thousands following her journey. She said: “My care has been fantastic, between Whiston Hospital, Liverpool Women’s Hospital and the Clatterbridge Cancer Centre. From receiving the letters regarding the smear results, to now in my first month post-treatment, all the staff have been amazing, so caring and sensitive to my needs, and always checking in on me and my family.”
Sarah shared her story to help raise awareness of the importance of cervical screening during Cervical Cancer Prevention Week, the annual campaign organised by the cervical cancer charity Jo’s Trust.
Cervical screening (also referred to as a smear test) which looks for the human papilloma virus (HPV), is offered to all women and people with a cervix aged 25 to 64, with first appointments offered shortly after their 25th birthday. Smear tests are usually carried out at the GP surgery by a female nurse.
Despite the potentially life-saving benefits of cervical screening, fewer than seven in 10 people in the North West who were eligible for cervical screening attended their appointments June 2021 to June 2022. Nationally the figure was only fractionally higher at just over seven in 10.
Helen Dickinson, Deputy Head of Public Health for NHS England – North West said: “Cervical screening is so important, and it is one of the best ways that you can protect yourself from cervical cancer. Routine cervical screening is all about prevention, so if there are any changes or abnormalities, we can monitor and treat them, before they ever turn into cancer.
“Please don’t ignore your invite for cervical screening. We recognise that it can be uncomfortable or embarrassing, and that you have busy lives, but everything will be done to make your appointment as comfortable and convenient as possible.”
