Laura’s hopes to help others

Now Laura has set up a campaign to help raise awareness of the condition which affects one in 10 women. It took her more than 20 years to be diagnosed and she doesn’t want this to happen to young girls. The campaign, Inside Out, has attracted women internationally to get involved. She said: “I would never say it’s medical negligence but there’s not enough awareness. “If I was talking to my 11-yearold self I’d say be persistent, speak your family, go to your doctor and ask them to look into it and if you think it might be possible ask for a scan looking for lesions or cysts.” To find out more contact Laura on 07493421060. of pre cancerous cells found in the cervix. “Had I not had the first surgery I would not have known. If left untreated CIN 3 can become invasive cervical cancer. Waiting for the results was horrible,” said Laura. “I’m a single mum, I was thinking what would happen to my three boys if it was worse. I’m so on top of everything now if I’m not well I call my GP because they need me – they’re my everything.” One of the symptoms is fatigue, which is so severe it has meant Laura had to give up her dance business in her home town of Coventry.

“I was a dancer, it’s made me lose my business, my confidence completely. I feel like it’s taken so much from me,” says Laura. “You just feel exhausted doing the simplest things.

“I feel like a 70-year-old woman but two or three years ago I was dancing eight hours a day. Now I teach one lesson and I’m shattered for two days.”

Laura, who runs Phoenix Belle Burlesque in Scarborough, says the pain is so intense that she’s been forced to call for ambulances and her children have been forced to see her crawling on the floor in pain.

Endometriosis can also cause infertility. Laura said: “I’m lucky I have my children already – some women never have that chance.”