In 2021, at the age of 46, Elizabeth attended her routine cervical screening appointment. This wasn’t her first appointment, and she thought little of it as all her previous smear tests had come back clear. When her results arrived, the letter said she was positive for HPV but with no cell changes. She was advised to have another test in a year’s time.
In 2022, life events took over - struggling with a difficult relationship breakdown and juggling work while raising children as a single mum. Elizabeth missed her next cervical screening appointment. She said: “Things were really difficult at the time, and I was putting everyone else first. The missed appointment was niggling in the back of my mind.”
In January 2023, she finally had her smear test. This time, the results letter said she had HPV with cell changes. She was referred straight to the colposcopy unit at Ysbyty Ystrad Fawr (YYF) hospital. The appointment came through quickly. Elizabeth had a biopsy of the cervix, and the samples were sent for testing. Two weeks later, she received a phone call asking her to return to YYF. Her appointment was scheduled for a few days later, and she was advised to take a family member with her.
Elizabeth was told she had cervical cancer. She said: “I sat my boys down and told them I had cancer. My youngest two were 10 and 11 at the time, and my older two were grown up. The news was devastating for all of us.”
The staff were lovely, and their focus was on the plans to make her better. She had a series of scans and tests to ensure the cancer hadn’t spread and luckily, it hadn’t. In July 2023, Elizabeth had a full hysterectomy. She moved in with her mum for a few months while undergoing treatment.
Now, she returns to the colposcopy unit at YYF for regular checks to ensure she’s clear of HPV. “The staff are lovely. I know the team really well now, they’re like part of my family. If I’m ever worried about anything, I know I can just call them.”
Elizabeth is passionate about sharing the message of how important it is to attend smear tests.
She said: “They’re so simple, and the nurses who do them are well-trained. If you’re nervous, you can take someone with you. Even if you’ve had the HPV vaccine, it doesn’t cover all strains, so attending your cervical screening appointment is vital. I know it’s easy for life to take over, and as women, we tend to put everyone else before ourselves, but you need to make your health a priority. It could be a life-saving game changer.”