I SHUNNED APPOINTMENTS – AND NEARLY PAID WITH MY LIFE

Pamela Nelis,49, a sales representative from Greenock, Renfrewshire, in scotland, lives with her fiancé stuart, and has three children Gemma, 28, emily, 21, and adam 20. she was diagnosed with cervical cancer in 2012 after ignoring her screening appointments for two decades. I WENT to my one and only cervical smear test in my mid-20s. It wasn’t terrible, just a bit uncomfortable and embarrassing, but even so, for reasons, I can’t really explain, I never went back for another.

I’d just bin the screening invitation letters, telling myself I was too busy. I didn’t know anyone who’d ever had cervical cancer or much about the symptoms and just assumed it was something rare that would never happen to me.

But then, as time went on, the thought of a smear test started to become terrifying: I would tense up and have a panic attack at just the thought of it. I thought it was bound to be painful after so long as well as embarrassing.

In my early 30s I started getting irregular periods and very heavy bleeding: it got much heavier over the next ten years — I’d regularly pass clots of blood. Sex was painful and I had spotting afterwards. I never saw a doctor, though, and kept ignoring the screening appointments. I confided in my mum and my two best friends and they begged me to see the GP, but I couldn’t stand the thought of being prodded around down there. I was so stupid.

Eventually in 2012 my symptoms worsened over six months until one day my friend had to call an ambulance as I’d collapsed in the hallway, covered in blood.

Tests revealed I had a tennis ballsize tumour in my cervix with tendrils that had wrapped themselves around my bladder and bowel. I

remember the oncologist at the bottom of my bed saying it was bad news, that the tumour was so big they couldn’t do a hysterectomy as it was too dangerous, I might die during surgery. My best friend screamed, but I was silent — I think because at the back of my mind I’d been expecting it. I was told my heavy bleeding had been a symptom. At that point I wondered if it was even worth having treatment as it seemed so bleak, but my friend talked me round. I then had ten cycles of chemotherapy and radiotherapy every day for six weeks, followed by four bouts of brachytherapy [internal radiation]. The treatment was gruelling, but it worked and in April 2013 I was told I was in remission. In the six years since I’ve seen my three grandchildren born and I’m getting married on my 50th birthday on April 12 — all things I nearly didn’t get to see.

I’ve had a lucky escape and want to warn other women about the importance of screening tests.

I can’t have them myself now because all results would come back abnormal but my eldest daughter has had a smear test, and my younger daughter will definitely have one when she turns 25 — she’d like one sooner. They’re not painful and take just couple of seconds. Don’t let shyness put your life in danger. PAMELA is supporting race for Life. Join a local event at raceforlife.org