Mum diagnosed with cervical cancer urges women to have smear tests

33-year old Sam Petrie has been diagnosed with terminal cervical cancer Credit: ITV News Anglia

A mum of three from Bury St Edmunds is urging more women to have smear tests after she was diagnosed with terminal cervical cancer two weeks ago.

33-year old Sam Petrie who has three young children says she wishes she'd kept up-to-date with her cervical screening.

15 months ago doctors discovered a tumour on Sam's cervix. She had a radical hysterectomy and underwent chemo and radio therapy. But soon after she started to feel unwell again and more tests revealed another tumour in her lung.

Sam Petrie is urging more women to have smear tests Credit: Sam Petrie

  • Smear tests are estimated to save 4,000 lives every year.

  • Screening is at the lowest it's been for 20 years.

  • In England more than 1.2 million women don't take up offered appointments

Girls from the age of 12 can have the HPV vaccine against viruses that cause cervical cancer. But doctors say screening is still essential.

Symptoms of cervical cancer include:

  • abnormal bleeding – such as between periods, following intercourse or after menopause;

  • having to urinate more frequently or painful urination;

  • pelvic and leg pain.

Sam's friends have set up a crowdfunding page to support her and to find alternative therapies that may help. Click here for more details

Click below to watch a report from Tanya Mercer