“If I had put that off any longer and not gone, then I don’t know whether I would be sitting here today,” Laura Woods said after a routine, yet delayed, smear test revealed a 5.5cm tumour.
The 41-year-old from Lowestoft, Suffolk, is now sharing her experience as part of a new awareness campaign after her own diagnosis of stage 2b cervical cancer.
At age 30, Woods was working full-time and raising a daughter when an NHS invitation for a smear test arrived in the post.
She admitted that her life felt “hectic” at the time, leading her to prioritize other daily tasks over the screening. She eventually booked the appointment two or three months past its due date.
From abnormal cells to cancer treatment
The results of the test revealed abnormal cell changes, which prompted further investigation. Doctors later confirmed the cancer had spread from the cervix into surrounding tissues, a diagnosis Woods said felt like everything she valued had been “smashed” to pieces.
Treatment for the condition was intensive, spanning a decade before she was finally discharged from hospital care. During her time in treatment, she met a fellow patient named Carly Slater, who had also delayed a smear test at age 25. Slater later died from the disease in her thirties.
Campaign targets 350,000 overdue screenings
Woods is now working with the East of England Cancer Alliance on a regional campaign titled “Let’s Talk Cervical Screening.” The initiative aims to reduce the number of people who are currently overdue for their exams, which the alliance estimates at approximately 350,000 women in the region.
Smear tests, which involve swabbing the cervix for abnormal cells, are believed to save about 4,500 lives annually in the UK. Women aged 25 to 64 are invited to attend a screening every five years.
Clinical advice for those with anxieties
Ballari Ghosh, a consultant gynaecologist at Colchester General Hospital and clinical lead for the alliance, acknowledged that many patients experience anxiety regarding the procedure. She encouraged anyone who has missed an appointment to reach out to their GP surgery or a healthcare professional regardless of how much time has passed.
“Talk to them, discuss your anxieties… even if you’re months or years from your last cervical screening,” Ghosh says. She added that the recommendation remains the same for all people with a cervix, including those who have previously received the HPV vaccine.
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Frequently asked questions about cervical screening
In the UK, women and people with a cervix aged 25 to 64 are invited to attend a cervical screening once every five years.
Healthcare professionals recommend contacting your GP surgery to discuss your concerns. Doctors can help address specific anxieties that may have caused you to delay the screening, and you can book an appointment regardless of how long it has been since your last test.
Even if you have been vaccinated against HPV, medical professionals advise attending regular screenings. The test remains a primary tool for detecting abnormal cell changes that can lead to cancer, helping to save approximately 4,500 lives each year.
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