Bounty

A charity is urging women not to ignore having a smear test after a 33-year-old mother found the procedure to be a life-saver.

Emmeline Collin believed she had no worries when she went for a routine smear test, having had no symptoms, until she was diagnosed with cervical cancer.

Thanks to the test, Emmeline was able to catch the cancer early enough. And a year after the diagnosis, the mother had the cancer removed and now has an excellent chance of a complete recovery.

As the cancer was detected early, Emmeline did not have to have a hysterectomy or radiotherapy and was able to under go a new procedure, named trachelectomy, which preserves a woman's fertility.

The surgery, which can be performed on some women who have very early invasive cervical cancer, involves removing the cervix and the lymph glands in the pelvic area, while leaving the womb in place.

Between June 7-13, Jo's Cervical Cancer Trust is raising awareness about cervical screenings. Some 2,828 women in the UK develop cervical cancer every year while a fifth of women fail to attend their smear test appointments, it said.

Jo's Cervical Cancer Trust wants to stress that cervical cancer is largely preventable. It is estimated screening saves 4,500 lives a year.

Copyright Press Association 2010.