OK! HEALTH
I’M A CELEB STAR REBEKAH VARDY TELLS OK! WHY SHE IS SO PASSIONATE ABOUT URGING WOMEN TO GO FOR SMEAR TESTS
The NHS could be under pressure to work through a backlog of smear tests that were delayed by the coronavirus crisis. Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust says that an estimated 600,000 tests would have been carried out in April and May if services had been running as normal – but they were either cancelled or delayed. The trust also revealed that many women had put off their appointments due to fears that it could put them at risk of contracting the virus.
In January this year, it was reported that smear testing – which checks the health of your cervix – was already at an all-time low, with a quarter of women failing to show up to their appointments. But these tests can prove life saving.
Rebekah Vardy raised awareness on social media in 2018 after a routine check found pre-cancerous cells. “My first thought was, ‘Am I going to die?’ The word cancer fills you with fear,” she tells OK!.
Here, the 38-year-old wife of footballer Jamie talks about her ordeal and why she hopes to encourage more women to book appointments...
Tell us about your smear test experience...
I have always been regular with my smear tests. I had one a year after the birth of my son Taylor. Quite quickly, they came back to me to say they’d found advanced and extensive pre-cancerous cells. The hospital told me to make an appointment. They were very firm with me and told me, “You need to do this immediately.”
Were you scared by the mention of the word cancer?
Of course. My first thought was, “Am I going to die?” I’m a mother, I didn’t want to lose my life. The word cancer fills you with fear.
What happened next?
I had a loop biopsy, which is when an electronic loop burns off the pre-cancerous cells [which are sent for analysis]. It wasn’t the most pleasant experience but the doctor told me the cells were between grade two and grade three, which is pretty high. I hate to think what could have happened if I’d skipped that appointment. I feel very strongly that that smear test saved my life. After this, I had a smear test every year for the next three years and then it went back to one every three years. Thankfully, I’ve never had a bad experience since.
Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust said that you prompted many women to book smear tests when you shared your experience
on social media. How did that make you feel?
It was amazing to think I could have helped in some way. I just know how important smear tests have been for me. It makes me so sad to think about the women who could accidentally put themselves in such danger by skipping one.
Why do you think the numbers for smear tests are so low?
I think a lot of women my age were really affected by Jade Goody’s death and that caused a big surge in smear testing. But it seems like people may have forgotten, or the younger generation might not remember or know about Jade. I think there are also a lot of misconceptions about smear testing. Women may assume they are painful or that it takes ages, when really it’s less than five minutes and it’s just unpleasant at worst. Some women may be embarrassed, but a smear is routine and the people that conduct them have seen it all. What advice would you give to a woman who had been putting off a smear test? I think you need to speak to your doctor and get their advice on booking one and how coronavirus may still impact that. But be organised and make sure you get it booked in. Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust has lots of amazing information on its website and it does a great job of debunking a lot of myths surrounding smear testing. For me, it’s just something I do every three years without fail. I hope all women can get into this mindset soon. They really can and do save lives.