Dr Doireann Grateful To Be Alive Following Cervical Cancer Diagnosis In 2019
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The HPV vaccine protects against nine different strains of the HPV virus, which can cause several types of cancer including cervical cancer.
The earlier cervical cancer is detected, the better the outcome, which is why it s so important to attend for routine screening.
HPV screening was introduced last year as the new CervicalCheck screening programme. It tests all samples for HPV, rather than just those with abnormal cells, and is more effective than the previous system.
Dr Doireann O Leary, health blogger and Cork GP, joined us for our weekly health slot during Cervical Cancer Prevention Week with more information on the screening process and the HPV vaccine.
What is cervical cancer?
Let’s start by considering what cervical cancer actually is and how it affects the body. Our doctors explain this below.
The cervix is part of the female reproductive organs and is the entrance to the womb from the vagina, often referred to as the “neck of the womb”.
Cervical cancer occurs when cells become abnormal in this area and can grow out of control.
If left untreated this can invade surrounding healthy tissue or spread to other areas of the body, a process known as metastasis.
As with most cancers, if this is caught at an early stage it will have a significant impact on the health implications to the sufferer.
A BRADFORD mum-of-three diagnosed with cervical cancer after her smear test was incorrectly reported as ‘normal’ has written a book to raise awareness of the life-threatening disease. Sarah McDonald, from Allerton, was given the devastating news in May, 2016. Less than three years prior, she had undergone routine cervical screening, the result of which was reported as normal. It took until August 2019 for Sarah to be made aware of the error in the reporting of her 2013 cervical screening. Following this, Sarah instructed medical negligence experts at Irwin Mitchell to investigate her illness and whether the cancer should have been identified and treated sooner.
NI Cervical cancer survivor urges women to attend their smear tests when called
“Nothing will ever really prepare you for being told you have cancer,” she said.
Marianne Nicholson
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Thank you for subscribingWe have more newslettersShow meSee ourprivacy notice A Co Down woman who survived cervical cancer has urged ladies not to ignore their smear test appointments and to go and have them done promptly when called.