Today marks the start of Cervical Cancer Awareness week, so as prevention is highly important I thought I would share with you what I know about this disease.

Every year over 2800 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer, of which roughly 1000 of those women will lose their lives.

In over 99% of cases the cause of cervical cancer is caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV), a common virus with over 100 strains. In most cases the immune system will fight the HPV virus, but sometimes the immune cannot fight the virus which can cause the cells in your cervix to become change and become abnormal.

If untreated the abnormal cells in your cervix may become cancerous, just because you have abnormal cells this does not mean you have cancer, 9 out of 10 smear results are negative. Pre-cancerous cells are called dyskaryosis, and most women with mild dyskaryosis (CIN 1) will not need treatment.

One women in 100 women will show moderate changes (CIN 2) and 1 in 200 will show severe changes (CIN 3)

Treatment for dyskaryosis can include regular screenings, lletz, colposcopy or a biopsy.

In 2005 I had a letter from my doctors reminding me to attend a smear test, having a young baby at the time I was always too busy and never got round to booking it. I had began to develop symptoms by late 2005 and I finally booked in for a smear test. That out of the way I thought no more about it, until another letter landed on my doormat telling me of changes in my cervix, I was booked in for a colposcopy. A colposcopy in case you don’t know is a detailed looked at the cervix using a high powered microscope. During this time I had a biopsy taken and went on my way.

2 weeks later I had a call from the doctor who performed my colposcopy asking me to pop in for a chat, that’s when it dawned on me that it wasn’t going to be good news, I just wasn’t prepared for how bad a news it was to be. It was cancer. A  few weeks later I underwent a radical hysterectomy, luckily for me I didn’t need chemo or radiotherapy. I was 26.

Last July I was given my 5 year all clear and signed off from the oncologist.  HUZZAH! I’m happy to say that I am fit (OK, unfit) but I’m healthy.

Symptoms for cervical cancer can include: bleeding after sex, bleeding between periods, pelvic pain, unpleasant vaginal discharge. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms make an appointment with GP.

Cervical cancer on the whole is a preventable cancer, with regular smear tests and treatments you needn’t hear the words “you have cancer”.

Smear tests may not be the most pleasant 10 minutes of your life, but without them your life could be cut short.

Don’t be complacent. Be aware.

For more about cervical cancer visit: http://www.jostrust.org.uk/

http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/

http://www.macmillan.org.uk/Home.aspx