Cervical cancer survivor urges women to go to screening appointments

January is Cervical Cancer Awareness Month and a hospital worker has grasped the opportunity to share her own experience to help save others.

Emma Jones, 39, is an A&E housekeeper at Hull Royal Infirmary. In 2021, she received a HPV-positive result after her cervical screening, and was then diagnosed with stage two cervical cancer.

She said: “It was hard but I looked at myself in the mirror every day and said, you’re going to beat this.” After rounds of chemotherapy, radiotherapy and brachytherapy, Emma, was declared cancer-free in 2022.

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“If you can spare five minutes to go to the shop for a loaf of bread, why can’t you spend five minutes booking that smear appointment? It might just save your life,” Emma said.

“I don’t want any woman to go through what I went through. I never thought it would happen to me, but it did.

Emma Jones, 39, an A&E housekeeper at Hull Royal Infirmary, was diagnosed with stage two cervical cancer after cervical screening in 2021
Emma Jones, 39, an A&E housekeeper at Hull Royal Infirmary, was diagnosed with stage two cervical cancer after cervical screening in 2021 -Credit:hnycanceralliance.org.uk

“I know how busy life can be, but please, don’t miss your cervical screening appointments. My body was telling me something wasn’t right, so, I went to see my GP and had a screening.

“If I hadn’t listened to my body and asked for a screening, I might not be here now. Which is why it is so important to look out for symptoms like spotting, lower back pain, bleeding during or after sex, weight loss or vaginal discharge – and not to ignore them.”

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Emma was working in a chip shop when she was diagnosed and had to tell her workplace she needed three months off. “They were really, really good to me; they were fantastic.

“My husband, Mike, and my immediate family and in-laws were amazing, I couldn’t ask for better, all helping in their own way. Mike did a spreadsheet of all the names, to be able to know who could take me to appointments on what days.

“They all looked after me so well, it was lovely. I’m so proud of myself that I was determined to go the doctors to get a smear done when I knew something wasn’t right.

“My consultant was absolutely amazing. After he told me I had the all-clear in May 2022, I went straight off and did the Race For Life in the July – people were saying to me, are you sure you’ve just been ill? – and it took me an hour but I raised about £800.”

With Cervical Cancer Awareness Month under way, Emma said: “It’s all about raising more awareness for me now. I’m so happy to be here to tell my story.

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“There needs to be more of a push about cervical cancer as you don’t hear about it as much as you do other cancers. Just look at Jade Goody [the Big Brother personality died in 2009 at the age of 27 from cervical cancer] who left those two beautiful children, it raised the profile of the disease but after that, you didn’t hear anything else.”

Visit the Cancer Alliance’s website to find out more about its Cervical Cancer Awareness Month campaign activity.

What is cervical screening?

According to the NHS:

  • All women aged 25 to 64 are invited by letter to cervical screening to check the health of their cervix. Cervical screening used to be called a smear test.

  • Everyone with a cervix should go for cervical screening.

  • The cervix is the opening to your womb from your vagina.

  • It's not a test for cancer, it's a test to help prevent cancer.

  • During the screening appointment, a small sample of cells will be taken from your cervix.

  • The sample is checked for certain types of human papillomavirus (HPV) that can cause changes to the cells of your cervix. These are called "high risk" types of HPV.

  • If these types of HPV are not found, you do not need any further tests.

  • If these types of HPV are found, the sample is checked for any changes in the cells of your cervix. These can be treated before they get a chance to turn into cervical cancer.

  • The nurse or doctor will tell you when you can expect your results letter.

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