Woman with cervical cancer urges mums to attend smear tests

A mum, who mistakenly thought she was up-to-date with her smear tests, was devastated to learn the "baby blues" she thought was causing her tiredness was actually a sign of cervical cancer.

Carrie Henderson, 40, from Glasgow, initially noticed she was feeling "more tired" than usual after the birth of her fifth baby.

And when she began having what she thought were very heavy periods, she put it down to her contraceptive implant "running out".

Having wrongly believed she'd had a smear test after giving birth to her last child three years ago, Henderson was diagnosed with cervical cancer, which sadly is now terminal.

She wants to urge other mothers not to let smear tests slip down the priority list and make sure their screenings are up to date.

The mum-of-five says she started feeling more tired than usual after the arrival of her fifth child in 2021, but assumed it was down to the "baby blues".

"I had no energy and was barely able to leave my bed," she recalls.

"Then we went on a caravan holiday and I realised I was struggling to walk.

“It was like shooting pains from my groin down my leg and my legs were feeling very heavy.

“I went back and forth to the doctor at least 10 times with urine infections and ear infections."

Then Henderson says she started to bleed heavily.

“I went to the bathroom and realised there was loads of blood in the toilet," she explains.

“I thought my implant was running out so I might be starting a period again as that stopped me having my cycle when that was put in.

“I went to see my doctor and she also thought it might be the implant.

“I was constantly bleeding - but it wasn't like period bleeding."

Henderson says she couldn’t work out what was going on, but wasn't initially concerned as she believed she had been given a smear test after the birth of her son.

“I went back to the doctor and she told me that there was no record of any smear test being done, so it ended up that I didn't have a smear test," she explains.

“It would have been normal to have an STI check so the doctor thought I had mixed that up with the smear test.”

After an emergency biopsy, Henderson was diagnosed with Stage 3 cervical cancer on 19 October 2022.

Despite going into remission in May 2023, she was told last October that her cancer was terminal.

In October 2023, she was told that her cancer was terminal and doctors were now treating her to prolong her life.

“I was devastated," she says of the prognosis.

“I just felt like I was shutting down, and like I wouldn’t accept it.

"I don’t think I ever will accept my diagnosis."

Now as well as making as many memories as she can with her children, Henderson wants to raise awareness about the importance of smear test attendance and has 4,000 followers on TikTok.

"I can't help wondering if I’d had that smear test would things be different for me and my family?" she explains.

"So I want to encourage people to go for their smear test.”

The importance of mothers attending cervical screenings

The cervical screening test, more commonly known as a smear test, checks for the presence of the human papillomavirus (HPV) and any associated cell changes, which can then be treated to prevent cancer from developing.

Along with the HPV vaccine, cervical screening is the best way to protect against cervical cancer.

“Cervical screening is important and available to all women and prevents cervical cancer," explains Mr Narendra Pisal, consultant gynaecologist at London Gynaecology.

"Between the ages of 25 and 50, cervical screening is offered every three years through your GP and every five years after 50 up to 64 years of age. This quick test usually takes only a few minutes and has the potential to save your life."

While it is important to attend your cervical screening appointments at any time, during motherhood when life can be particularly busy it can often fall down the priority list.

"When you've had a baby, your own health often takes a back seat, but it is really important to attend your cervical screening appointment," advises Bridget Little, head of support services at Jo's Cervical Cancer Trust.

"Many women receive their invitation letter during pregnancy, so it can be really helpful to a set a calendar reminder to contact your healthcare practice about eight weeks after your due date to book your appointment."

A lot of new mothers mistakenly believe that during the extended testing they undergo during pregnancy, any issues would have been flagged.

"You might feel that you've had a cervical sample taken, particularly if you have had a lot of examinations, but women are usually advised to wait for 12 weeks after they've given birth not because it’s harmful, but because it can be more difficult to get clear results during pregnancy, and in those first few weeks post-partum," Little continues.

"Listen to your body and chat things though with your GP or midwife if you notice anything that concerns or worries you, and if something doesn't feel right, it's always better to get things checked out."

Mr Pisal suggests checking with your GP whether a smear test is due when you go for your post-natal appointment.

"The story of the mother who thought she had been tested, only to discover she had cervical cancer, serves as a poignant reminder of why this screening test is vital. Regular cervical screening can save lives, and I urge all mothers not to let this essential health check fall by the wayside.”

Anyone who is worried about cervical cancer symptoms should speak to their GP at the earliest possible opportunity.

For more information and support about cervical cancer and smear tests visit www.jostrust.org.uk.

Additional reporting SWNS.

Read more about cervical cancer

• Cervical cancer ‘to be eliminated in England by 2040’ (PA, 3-min read)

• Woman's embarrassing symptom turned out to be a sign of cervical cancer (Yahoo Life UK, 6-min read)

• 12 things people wish they knew about smear tests (Yahoo Life UK, 9-min read)