Early Warning Signs of Cervical Cancer to Watch Out For
Inspiring and brave Heather Keating shared the story of her cervical cancer diagnosis in order to make more women aware of the symptoms and to encourage them to go for regular pap smears.
On Feb. 4, 2016, World Cancer Day, Heather took to Facebook.
I was diagnosed with stage one cervical cancer at the age of 24. Because I was 24 I was not entitled to a free smear and the early cell changes in my cervix were not picked up.I started bleeding between my periods and bleeding after sex. I went to see my GP and was told to come back when I was 25 for a smear. I thought that's fine. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I had cancer. Three months later the bleeding got worse and I became anaemic.
Heather explains that she needed an MRI scan to see if the cancer had spread - luckily it hadn't - and underwent surgery to remove it from her cervix. The surgery was successful and Heather is now cancer free, and she hopes other women under 25 will heed her warning and make time for pap smears.
If your [sic] over 25 please go for your smear tests make time for it! They are so important. I wish I had the opportunity to have caught the cell changes before it became cancerous. If you are under 25 and feel something is not right please go and get it check [sic] out with your GP.
The symptoms are:
Abnormal bleeding (between periods, after sex, or after menopause)
Heavy or longer periods
Foul smelling discharge
Pain or discomfort in the pelvis or during sex
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