MP Sarah Champion speaks out after cervical cancer scare

The 49-year-old Rotherham MP (pictured) said she had been “all-clear” for six months but recalled how it had been “very scary” to find out she had cancerous cells.

“I was lucky the cancer was caught early and I only had to have day surgery locally with no follow up treatments — but it was scary as I had no symptoms whatsoever,” she said.

“I went for a smear test as usual, but it showed inconclusive results, so I went back for a biopsy and it discovered some abnormal cells which were cancerous.

“There is still this great fear over the ‘C word’ and you go through the motions, emotions run high and you always think about the what ifs.

“But for me the process was really fast and all of the hospital staff were really professional and reassuring throughout.” 

Ms Champion, who tweeted her relief six months on to her 39,000 Twitter followers last week, praised her family and consultants and said hospital staff were “kind and supportive” and had helped to make a scary process, manageable. 

Following her own experience with the disease, the MP is now urging as many people as possible to support Cervical Cancer Prevention Week, which runs until this Sunday, after discovering the uptake for smear tests is at an all time low. 

“Cervical cancer remains the most common form of cancer in women under 35,” added Ms Champion, who is also a supporter of the charity Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust.

“Early diagnosis is critical to improving cancer survival, but attendance at cervical screenings continues to fall.

“Smear tests are not an easy thing to go through, especially for woman suffering with past trauma but I would urge women who are feeling worried and nervous to speak to a nurse about their concerns, rather than just ignoring their appointment.”

Robert Music, chief executive of Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust said: “We are delighted to have Sarah’s support to help raise awareness about cervical cancer and how it can be prevented. 

“Around five million UK women are invited to cervical screening each year, yet one in four do not attend.”

Ms Champion is also calling for all boys and girls to have the vaccine against HPV  (human papilloma virus) — which can lead to cervical cancer in girls and women and can cause cancers in men.

She said: “The HPV vaccine is now available to all girls and accounts for 99.7 per cent of cervical cancers, so it’s vital that girls get the protection it affords. 

“However to have maximum effect the government needs to roll out the vaccine to boys, too.”

Factfile

Cervical cancer is when abnormal cells in the lining of the cervix grow in an uncontrolled way. 

Women aged 25-49 who are registered with a GP surgery are automatically invited for cervical screening every three years and women aged 50-64 are invited every five years. 

In the UK, is it estimated that around 3,200 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer every year and over 800 will lose their lives.

Cervical cancer is the most common cancer in women aged 35 and under.

Symptoms include: abnormal bleeding, during or after sexual intercourse, or between periods; post-menopausal bleeding, if you are not on hormone replacement therapy (HRT) or have stopped it for six weeks or more; unusual vaginal discharge; discomfort or pain during sexual intercourse; and lower back pain.

If possible, try to book an appointment during the middle of your menstrual cycle (usually 14 days from the start of your last period), as this can ensure a better sample of cells is taken. 

It’s best to make your appointment for when you don’t have your period.

If you haven’t had a cervical screening test within the appropriate time, you can be offered an appointment on your next visit to your GP or Family Planning Clinic.

You can also call your GP to book a screening in if you’re overdue one.