A 31-year-old mother has been diagnosed with cervical cancer after ignoring appointment letters and waiting ten long years for a smear test.
Kim Montgomery from Dunfermline, Fife said she experienced abnormal bleeding for 9 months. That’s when she decided to have a smear test as she ‘had a feeling’ she had cervical cancer.
The mother-of-four then received heartbreaking news of cervical cancer after a biopsy.
“I didn’t think I was ever going to get cancer – I am only 31,” Ms. Montgomery expressed. “I got lots of reminders about going but I just ignored them.
“I had been pregnant with my four children back to back for three years and you can’t have a smear test when you are pregnant.
“That was a huge factor in why I didn’t get one for so long, but I also just didn’t realise how important it was.”
Ms. Montgomery now urges other women to attend screenings and there’s nothing to be embarrassed about it.
“I had abnormal bleeding for more than nine months and I am still bleeding now,” she said. “I was worried about it but I just kept putting it off until I thought enough is enough I have to go and get it done.
“I had the smear test on December 20 and then in the new year I got a letter to say I had abnormal cells. I thought right away it was cancer, I just had a feeling, but it wasn’t real until the doctors told me and I broke down.
“You automatically think you are going to die.”
She continued: “The doctors won’t be able to tell me how long I have had it, but if I had just gone for a test they would have caught it before it turned into cancer.
“I didn’t want to tell my children until I found out if it’s terminal. They know I am not well, and I have told my eldest who said right away “are you going to die”.
“The doctors said they think I will need chemo and a hysterectomy. It’s really daunting and I wanted to have more children, but I just feel lucky I have my four.”
Ms. Montgomery added: “Since I announced I have cancer on Facebook 19 women have said it’s encouraged them to go and have their smear test done.
“I want to raise awareness of how important it is for people to have their smear test. I hope me sharing my story means more lives can be saved.”
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