24-year-old woman has urgent warning for young people after first smear test uncovered shock diagnosis
Georgina Wren was 24 years old when she received a letter in the post inviting her to attend her first smear test.
In the UK, cervical screening begins at the age of 25, but many women will receive an invitation up to six months before their 25th birthday.
Georgina, from Cardiff, booked her appointment straight away and was seen by a nurse at her local surgery within a week.
Despite attending her screening at the earliest opportunity, the appointment marked the beginning of Georgina's cancer journey, in which she discovered a tumour had been growing on her cervix for around 18 months.
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"When I first went for my appointment, the nurse really struggled to do the smear. She told me I might have to come back for another one, but I wasn't worried or concerned," Georgina tells Tyla.
"About two weeks later I received a letter explaining that I had high grade abnormal changes and I would need to go to the hospital.
"I was told I would have to have a colposcopy but at this point, I wasn't concerned. I have a friend who had also had one recently and she told me it was really straightforward."
'I broke down in tears after the appointment'
A colposcopy is a test which looks more closely at the cervix using a microscope. Georgina also had a LLETZ procedure, which is where abnormal cells are removed.
During a LLETZ, local anaesthetic is used and the procedure is often carried out at the same time as the colposcopy.
"On the day of my appointment, there was actually a consultant who happened to be doing my procedure," Georgina explains.
"He said it would take 10 minutes, but actually the whole thing took 40 minutes, which on hindsight was quite strange."
Once the consultant had finished, Georgina was told that the procedure hadn't been successful because the team had discovered a cancerous tumour.
"They did a biopsy there and then and he said it’s probably cancer but we would have to wait for the results," she adds.
"I broke down in tears after the appointment."
Georgina later discovered that the tumour was cancerous and that it was Stage 1. She had an MRI scan to determine if the cancer had spread and was asked to make a decision about if she would like to freeze her eggs before undergoing surgery.
'I went through a lot of grief'
"They told me that the best option would be surgery and that they weren't sure if the cancer had spread to my ovaries," she said.
"I had a hysterectomy with all my lymph nodes in my pelvis removed.
"There was also some cancer beginning to spread in my lymphatic and nervous systems. Because of this, they said there could be some residual cells, so they advised five weeks of chemotherapy and 25 sessions of radiotherapy, too."
Although Georgina was initially given the option of freezing her eggs, she was later told that this wouldn't be possible, due to the size of the tumour.
"I went through a lot of grief; you’re grieving the life you had, the possibility of kids, the body you had, the time that you lost, freedom - everything. It doesn't go away, you just build your life around it," she added.
Now 26, Georgina is supporting Cancer Research UK in their campaign to encourage more women to attend their screenings.
'People try to understand but they can't really'
Georgina is now cancer-free and beginning to find normality in her life again, but she's still dealing with the aftermath, including early menopause.
"You can't really talk to anyone about it," Georgina explains.
"People try to understand but they can't really. It's been hard for my body to adjust.
"I've been able to go on hormone replacement therapy (HRT) which is really good and I've had really good support from my doctor.
"Meanwhile, the radiotherapy affects so many parts of your body - I've had bone weakness, problems with my pelvic floor, lymphedema, there's so much you'd never think about.
"It's been a lot to deal with. I also have an appointment every three months for the next five years, as well as a regular MRI."
Georgina's doctors estimate that the tumour had been growing for up to 18 months when it was discovered, which raises questions about the current minimum screening age in the UK.
In 2013, following a review, it was recommended that the screening age be increased from 20 to 25.
The government have cited a number of reasons for this, mainly that screening women under the age of 25 would 'do more harm than good'.
At the time, they say a study found that 'for every 100,000 women invited for screening from the age of 20, the number of cervical cancers would not be reduced but an extra 8,000 women would need further investigation and 3,000 more would have unnecessary treatment'.
They also claim that repeated treatments for cervical abnormalities 'can increase the chance of premature births if a women goes on to become pregnant'.
With a third of eligible women still not attending their cervical screenings, Georgina is urgently warning others about the consequences of delaying their smear.
"From the minute you can have your screening, you should," Georgina warns.
"There are so many reasons people don't have it. It's very easy to say it's 'not scary' or 'not painful' - for some people there's factors like stigma, cultural reasons, past experiences that contribute to people not wanting to get their smear, there's all sorts.
"There's loads of other ways that the NHS can support you if you're worried. For example, you can have it under gas and air, you can bring a chaperone, or even have it at hospital.
"If there's something stopping you, please discuss that with your GP."
You can find help, support and information about cervical cancer over at Cancer Research UK.
What happens at your cervical screening?
When you attend your screening, it will usually be a female nurse carrying out the smear.
The procedure tests for HPV (a virus called human papillomavirus). High-risk HPV can cause cervical cells to become abnormal.
The test is super quick and often only takes a minute or two.
You will be asked to remove your underwear and lie on your back, usually with your knees drawn upwards.
The nurse uses a plastic instrument called a speculum, which is inserted into the vagina. This is used so that the cervix can be seen more clearly.
Samples of cells are then taken, using a soft brush.
You can then get dressed and go home. Results will usually be sent in the post over the course of a few weeks.
What happens when you get the results?
Results usually take around two to six weeks.
If you test positive for HPV, the laboratory will also test your sample for cell changes.
If these are present, you'll be invited for a colposcopy.
If you test negative for HPV, you will be invited back for screening in either three or five years' time, depending on your age.
Topics: Health, News, Women's Health
Lucy Devine