A mother who delayed her cervical screening during pregnancy is urging women to get tested regularly after she narrowly avoided cancer.
Tinuke Awe, 33, who has a son Ezekiel, seven, and daughter Eden, four, told The i Paper that she ended up missing a couple of cervical screening tests as her invites arrived while she was pregnant.
NHS guidance advises routine screening be delayed for three months after giving birth.
Ms Awe, from south-east London, admits that in between having her two children, she completely forgot about having her cervical screening as she became busy as a mother.
It was only when she went to see her GP after feeling generally unwell that her doctor looked through her notes and advised her to have her cervical screening.
Abnormal cells were then identified, which required treatment to prevent them from turning into cervical cancer.
“I was told there had been grade-three changes, and after I did my research, I realised the next stage would have been cervical cancer,” said Ms Awe.
“It was really concerning and I feel incredibly lucky that I had a GP who was so switched on and was looking for things on my medical record and encouraged me to go have my delayed cervical screening.
Abnormal cells were then identified, Ms Awe explained, which required treatment to prevent them from turning into cervical cancer“If it wasn’t for those extra health issues I was experiencing which prompted me to go to my doctor, who knows what might have happened.
“I believe having my cervical screening potentially saved my life.”
Cervical screening is a test offered to women and people with a cervix aged between 25 and 64 to help prevent cervical cancer.
It is estimated to save 5,000 lives a year in the UK. However, cervical screening attendance rates are decreasing, with one in three people invited not attending.
New research commissioned by gynaecological charity The Eve Appeal has revealed a lack of knowledge of the adaptations people can ask for during their cervical screening appointment.
The YouGov survey of 1,146 women found that over half (56 per cent) were not aware they could ask the nurse or doctor to stop the cervical screening if they wanted them to.
More than three in four (77 per cent) were not aware they could ask for a smaller-sized speculum.
Only one in 10 women knew they could ask to be in a different position for their screening or that they could book a double appointment to allow more time.
Ms Awe said she had asked for some adjustments in her own situation. After being recalled for tests after abnormal cells were found, she was very nervous and took a friend along for moral support.
Then, when she had to undergo a procedure called a large loop excision of the transformative zone (LLETZ) for the precancerous cell changes, she requested to go under general anaesthetic.
“I found it incredibly uncomfortable and was in quite a lot of pain when they did the screening procedure the second time, so I asked to be put under general anaesthetic for the treatment,” she said.
Ms Awe was pregnant twice when she received invites for cervical screening“They were happy to do the adjustments I asked for to feel more comfortable.”
Ms Awe lives in south-east London and is a social entrepreneur and black maternal health campaigner. She said she wanted to use her experience to highlight how important it is that women go for their cervical screening.
“I think it is so important to have cervical screening, especially if you are a mum and might have missed when they invited you because you were pregnant,” she said.
“As a woman of colour, I think it is particularly important to take control of our health, as when it comes to health outcomes we are often near the bottom.
“All women should ensure they take charge of their health and keep on top of things and go for regular screenings and check-ups as it could save their life.”
Helen Hyndman, The Eve Appeal’s Ask Eve nurse, said: “Whilst cervical screening is safe during pregnancy, current guidance from the NHS cervical screening programme suggests that if a woman’s screening was up to date and normal, before pregnancy, it is usually advised that test is delayed for three months after giving birth.
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Read More“If a cervical screening is not routine and due to previous abnormal cells, the best time to have this done is between three and six months of pregnancy.”
Cervical screening looks for HPV, the virus which causes almost all cervical cancers. Any changes to the cells can then be treated or monitored to prevent them turning into cancer.
Athena Lamnisos, CEO of The Eve Appeal, said: “We know that cervical screening isn’t easy for everybody. But there are things you can do to help make the appointment more comfortable and we want everyone to be aware of these.
“Cervical cancer is an almost wholly preventable disease. To reach the NHS England’s ambitious but achievable target of elimination by 2040, we need to help every person who is eligible and wants to be screened to overcome their particular barriers and challenges.”
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