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A grandmother believed in two minutes smear test To save her life, she urged others not to delay getting their checks.
Gayle Maxwell was 39 when she was told she had cancer on February 17, 2015. She postponed her smear test that year to enjoy the Christmas holidays and had it in early January that year.
Doctors discovered the tumor was growing rapidly and aggressively, so she underwent surgery in April, followed by chemotherapy and internal radiation.
She recovered in October 2015 and had regular checkups over the next five years.
“If I hadn’t had the smear test, or if I’d waited, you’re talking about a completely different game,” she said before the game Cervical Cancer Prevention Weekstarting on Monday.
“The tumor grew quickly and aggressively, so I had surgery in April.
“Surgery removed the tumor and other affected areas before I had chemotherapy and brachytherapy (internal radiotherapy), but had I been caught later the surgery might not have been possible.
“Thanks to my treatment and timely detection, I became cancer-free in October 2015, despite the severity of my cancer.
“For five years, my doctor kept a close eye on me every six months.”
She added: “The smear test caught my cancer early and saved my life and I am now living well and enjoying family time.”
Ms Maxwell, 50, works as a clinical support secretary at NHS Highland and has three children and four grandchildren, with another on the way.
She supports the Scottish Government’s Early Bird campaign, which aims to highlight the benefits of catching cancer early when more treatment options are available.
Main symptoms of cervical cancer
NHS
Symptoms of cervical cancer include:
- You have unusual vaginal bleeding – including bleeding during or after sex, between periods or after menopause, or a heavier than usual period
- changes in your vaginal discharge
- pain during intercourse
- Pain in the lower back, between the hip bones (pelvis), or in the lower abdomen
The grandmother, who lives in Gilphead, Butloch, Argyll, said: “My advice is – although a smear test can be daunting, without it the results can be more challenging. The test takes a few minutes.”
“As far as I know, treating cancer has a far greater impact than doing a two-minute smear test.
“I completely understand the fear that stops people from getting tested and not wanting things to get worse, but that fear is not going to make the outcome better.
“If you get it done, you’ll probably be at a stage where you can handle things in a better, faster, more successful way, and you’ll be able to live a good life again.”
In Scotland, women and anyone with a cervix aged 25 to 64 can have cervical screening.
Health experts say it’s important for those who are eligible to attend cervical screening every time they are invited, even if they have had the HPV vaccine, and for routine screening every five years.
More information can be found here.