The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
‘A smear test saved my life – don’t miss yours’
When Katy Gordon, from Perthshire, attended her routine smear test during lockdown, she had no idea it would change her life.
Katy is one of a generation who remembers TV’s Jade Goody, and how a campaign after Jade’s death in 2009, aged just 27, saw smear test attendance rates soar.
But smear test uptake in Scotland has declined recently. So after Katy’s cervical cancer diagnosis and difficult decision to have a hysterectomy at 35, she is passionate about encouraging others to take the tests.
Here she tells us about the lack of symptoms she experienced before her diagnosis; how cancer, hysterectomy and “imposter syndrome” affected her relationships, and what to say to someone with cancer.
Katy, who lives with her partner Douglas in Burrelton, said: “I got my normal smear test invitation in December 2020.
“Part of me was thinking: ‘Oh it’s a bit scary going into the surgery during a lockdown.’ But I decided – thankfully, now – to go ahead with it.
“A few weeks later I got a call asking me to go into Ninewells for a colposcopy (a test to take a closer look at the cervix).
“They put a dye on your cervix to show up cancerous or pre-cancerous cells.
“Apparently it lit up, so they knew something was wrong.”
Later at the hospital, staff took biopsies and did a Lletz procedure – where some cervix cells are burnt off to allow them to be tested for cancer.
“People said to me: ‘Oh I had abnormal cells, it will all be fine.’ So I thought OK, it doesn’t mean disaster necessarily.
“I didn’t think this would ever happen to me.”
Stressful weeks of waiting for results followed for Katy, who works as a senior copywriter.
She was shocked when told it was cancer as, other than erratic or painful periods, she did not have any signs.
Katy added: “I was completely fine, without symptoms.
“I was working from home and a nurse phoned. She said: ‘There are signs of an invasion.’
“I said: ‘Are you telling me I have cancer?’ She said: ‘Yes.’
“The hospital didn’t think the cancer had spread but were keen to move fast.
“Right from the start they were saying: ‘How would you feel if you had to have a hysterectomy?’
“I was 35. I’ve no kids but always thought if it happens, it happens.
“I was three or four months into a new relationship and having to say to my partner, what happens if I can’t have kids with you, would that change anything?
“He said there are other ways, adoption or whatever, if we want in the future.”
Between February and June 2021 Katy had three more procedures and was given the all-clear in June 2021.
“They said they’d see me in six months. But waiting for that check-up I was so worried. I didn’t know if they were going to tell me the cancer had come back.
“So in December 2021 I asked to be put on the waiting list for the hysterectomy. I just couldn’t stand the stress of maybe being told they’d have to do it anyway.
Katy had a laparoscopic hysterectomy – womb and cervix removal – in March.
“It was robotic surgery and I was in for two days,” she said.
“I felt really good after it. Recovery time is shorter with the robotic surgery.
“But I hit the wall a few times in terms of my mental health, dealing with having cancer.
“I had imposter syndrome, too.
“I felt like it was wrong for me to tell people I had cancer because I wasn’t sick, didn’t need chemo or lose my hair.
“My family were really supportive and most of my friends rallied round, asking what I needed, how they could help.
“But I have lost friends because I had cancer.
“There were people who didn’t show up for me when I needed them.
“I realised I don’t need those people around.”
Katy joined Macmillan and Scottish Book Trust’s digital storytelling project, in which people affected by cancer tell their stories through video.
“Making the video made me recognise I’m not the same person after cancer.
“My priorities have changed. It’s changed how I treat people, how I see things.
“People feel they have to say something. But you don’t have to say anything.”
“You don’t need to say ‘it’s going to be OK’ – it’s fine to say ‘this sucks’.”
Katy advises asking what the person prefers. Some want to talk, others want you to listen, or they may not want support and wish to carry on as usual.
She also suggests asking, rather than telling, and avoid “be positive” and “be patient”. Instead, try saying “what do you need?” or “how can I help?”
“I’m doing stand-up in Edinburgh soon. I’ll be talking about my cancer then,” said Katy.
“But the main message from me is do not put off your smear test.
“There’s no way I could have known without it. It is uncomfortable, but it can save your life. I was lucky.”