Wetherby woman who managed to prevent herself from developing cancer urging others to not miss vital smear tests
Almost 35,000 women in North Yorkshire missed their smear test during the first year of the coronavirus pandemic
A woman from Wetherby who found out she had pre-cancerous cells after having a smear tests is urging others not to skip their appointments.
It's as recent figures show screenings have dropped to 70 per cent meaning thousands are missing out on potentially life-saving tests.
Claire Maxted-Wiggins from Boston Spa near Wetherby found she had precancerous cells when she was checked over, which meant doctors could remove them before they developed into cervical cancer.
She was worried about having the procedure to have the cells removed.
"I was married, settling down in our first couple of years and we were hoping to start a family and I had these worries going through my head. But the doctors and nurses were brilliant and they reassured me all the way even though it was terrifying at the time.
"If I hadn't have gone for my smear, the doctors did say it probably would've developed into cervical cancer. I dread to think what I would've had to have gone through. Everybody has seen and heard Jade Goody's story and what she had to go through."
Claire was 26-years-old when she had the procedure and now at 42-years-old she started to experience similar symptoms to what she'd had before like painful bleeding outside of periods and during and after intercourse.
She went to her GP to have another smear test to check if there were any issues which came back clean but she was referred to Harrogate Hospital to see a gynaecologist due to her previous history of pre-cancerous cells.
They found she had polyps on the uterus which is an overgrowth of cells in the lining of the uterus (endometrium). These polyps are usually noncancerous although some can be cancerous or can eventually turn into cancer. She's due to have another operation in six weeks.
Claire, added:
"When I started to get all the symptoms again and I knew something wasn't right the first thing that crossed my mind was 'oh no not again' I'm going to have to go through it all again. I have to go for very regular smear tests and check ups and thank god I did."
This week (17-23 January) is Cervical Cancer Awareness Week with figures showing one in three women and people with a cervix don't attend cervical screening.
From the period of April 2020 to March 2021, 3.03 million individuals aged 25 to 64 were tested for cervical cancer, a decrease of 5.3% on the previous year, when 3.20 million were tested.
Almost 35,000 women in North Yorkshire missed their smear test during the first year of the coronavirus pandemic.
Jo's Cervical Cancer Trust say it could lead to fewer women being diagnosed with preventable cancers.