Scots mum-of-four with cervical cancer ‘massively regrets’ ignoring smear test for 10 years
A FIFE mum diagnosed with cancer after snubbing smear tests for ten years is encouraging other women to get checked.
Kim Montgomery, 31, “massively regrets” ignoring so many reminder letters about her overdue test after she was given the devastating news on February 5.
The mum of four, from Fife, is now waiting for an MRI scan for docs to find out how far the cancer has spread.
Medics fear she has stage two cervical cancer and will need a hysterectomy as well as chemo, but she won’t know until the results come back.
She said: “My last smear test was 10 years ago and it came back clear.
Nurse died of cervical cancer after being told six times she didn’t have the disease
“Since then I’ve been pregnant three times, almost back to back, and you can’t get a smear when you’re pregnant.
“It’s so unpleasant and embarrassing so I obviously wasn’t keen to rush back.
“I didn’t think it was important. And at 31 I honestly didn’t think I would get cancer.
“I’m a normal girl, the girl next door, and it happened to me. I didn’t think it would, but there you go.
“I feel numb. It feels so surreal.
“I mean, I’m dying. And that’s such a scary thing to think about.
“I’ve not left the house since I was diagnosed.
EARLY WARNING SIGNS OF CERVICAL CANCER
The symptoms of cervical cancer aren’t always obvious - it may not cause any symptoms until it’s reached an advanced stage.
Some women do not experience any signs of cervical cancer at all, but here's what to look out for:
- Abnormal bleeding
- Unusual vaginal discharge
- Discomfort or pain during sex
- Lower back pain
- Uninteded weight loss
“But I’m hanging on to hope, especially for my children.”
Kim is mum to Macaulay, three, Kayla, five, Lacey, six, and Dylan, 12.
She hopes her cancer has been spotted early enough that she can keep her diagnosis from them.
But she dreads the moment she has to tell them she’s dying if doctors give her the worst news.
She said: “I’m not telling the children unless it proves terminal.
“I want to keep them out of the picture as far as the cancer is concerned.
“The thought of having to sit down and tell them is awful, it breaks my heart.
“When the doctor told me I had a panic attack.
“I broke down thinking about what it would do to my kids, it’s not fair on them.”
Kim only booked in for a smear test the week before Christmas, her first in a decade, after noticing abnormal bleeding.
Her results came back abnormal, and after further tests it was confirmed she had cervical cancer.
She said: “I was bleeding non-stop for around nine months.
“I knew something was wrong. That’s the only reason I went for my smear.
“If I’d had no symptoms I wouldn’t have went and the cancer would have continued to grow.
“I’ve been worrying ever since.
“The waiting is the worst part. I’m just imagining the cancer growing and spreading and can’t do anything about it until after the MRI.
“I’m just fortunate I have kids already since I might need a hysterectomy.”
Kim, a qualified hair extension technician, is sharing her story with the Scottish Sun Online in the hope that other women will learn from her mistake and book in for their own smear test.
The brave mum said: “I posted about my diagnosis on Facebook.
“It wasn’t about sympathy, I just wanted to raise awareness. I want other women to think before ignoring the reminder letters.
“The response has been amazing so far and 19 women have already told me they’ve booked in for their smear just because they read about what’s happened to me.
“Like me, they thought it wouldn’t happen to them. But at least they’re doing something about it now.
“I only wish there had been someone around 10 years ago to do the same for me.
“If I’d read a story like mine I wouldn’t have thought twice, I’d have booked in.”
MOST READ IN FABULOUS
Kim isn't alone in trying to raise awareness about cervical cancer.
This Scots mum warned women to not to ignore their smear test after being diagnosed with terminal cancer and given one year to live.
Meanwhile, a hysterectomy saved this woman's life after she was diagnosed with cervical cancer during her first smear test aged 24 - but she'll never have kids.
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