My first smear test, at the age of 24, in 2015 came back clear. In January 2019, I had my three year smear test after putting this off for a few months as it was Christmas and I was ‘too busy’. If I am being completely honest, I didn’t really appreciate the importance of a smear test and assumed my results would always come back completely normal.
A few weeks later, I received a phone call from my mum to tell me an important looking letter had arrived and I asked her to open it for me. The results showed I had cell changes and HPV. It takes a lot for me to cry, but hearing this news made my break down in tears. I was gripped with fear and uncertainty of what was going on inside my body. I had no idea what HPV was or how I had got it.
I was referred for a colposcopy (an examination to take a closer look at the cervix) in February 2019 where I was diagnosed with both CIN and CGIN. A biopsy was taken and, due to the glandular cell changes, my case was referred to a team of pathologists for discussion. In March, the biopsy results came back showing CIN3 in the outer cervix and high grade CGIN. I was scared, sad and grateful all in one.
A week later, I had a pre-op assessment to prepare me for LLETZ treatment to remove part of my cervix under general anaesthetic. Whilst the day of the treatment was frightening, the wonderful nurses and incredible women I met who were having similar experiences to me made things much more bearable. We spoke about our cervixes as comfortably and as naturally as if we were discussing EastEnders.
I then received the results of my smear test in September 2019, 6 months after my LLETZ treatment. These showed I had no cell changes and also no HPV. Due to these positive results, I attended a smear test on an annual basis for three years and I am now back on the list to attend a smear test every three years. However, during 2019 alone, I had to attend three smear tests and, in the last three years I have attended six smear tests. Due to the availability of appointment times, these all took place during working hours.
Whilst everyone’s smear test is unique to them, we are all united by the fact that, in order to prevent cervical cancer, we need to attend our smear tests. That’s why it is so important for employers to support their employees in being able to attend their appointments and prioritise their health. And I am grateful to Optio for understanding the significance of this issue in the workplace and encouraging anyone at Optio who needs to attend a smear test during the working week to feel comfortable and empowered to do so.