I’m a cervical cancer survivor.
In October 2018, I went for my first pap smear at 27 years of age (I know, silly me). I received the results from my smear two weeks later and was told I had high-grade severe dyskaryosis. I was booked in for a colposcopy and biopsy of the cervix. On receiving my results in November 2018, they told me I had cervical cancer; it came as a huge shock, I had no symptoms, not a single one.
The following day I was booked for an MRI scan to see if my cancer had spread; they told me it looked like it hadn’t.
The staff from the NHS were amazing from start to finish. I was quickly booked to see the consultant to talk about my treatment and get rid of this gross disease.
In December 2018, I had my operation to remove part of my cervix and take away lymph nodes from my pelvic area. On New Years Eve 2018, I got the all clear! To say I was relieved was an understatement. I will now go back for 6-month check-ups.
The photo I’ve used was me just before my wedding in August 2018. I never had a clue that this disease was trying to kill me from the inside out.
Smear tests save lives, and I urge everybody to please go and get tested.
Lots of love!
Chelsea
United Kingdom
Submitted January 15, 2019
This story is intended to convey a personal experience and, because every person’s experience is unique, should not be relied upon as a substitute for professional healthcare advice.
Hi Chelsea, Thank you for sharing your story. I know exactly how you felt. I too was diagnosed with Stage 0 cervical cancer (I didn’t even know there was a stage 0). Anyway, it meant that the bad cells had penetrated the ‘wall’ but had not broken through yet. Thank God surgery took care of it. I had to do the 6-month checkups for 7 years. I now go back yearly. Best of luck to you. I’m so happy that you kicked its butt!