A bride-to-be battling stage 2 cervical cancer says her diagnosis was delayed due to Covid.
Lauren Orbell, known as Lolly, 34, says she should have had a smear test in July 2020. But she didn't get an invite until November 2021.
Lolly says she 'may never really know when the cancer started', but fears that previous smears failed to pick it up.
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In July 2019, while living in London, she suffered an abnormal bleed but was told it was nothing to worry about. And in 2013 she was told a test had returned abnormalities, but that they were linked to a previous diagnosis of HPV.
Lolly, who plans to get married in April, and lives in Middleton, said: "Covid has a lot to answer for, I didn't feel I was getting the right care through my doctor.
"Throughout Covid the service I got from doctors has been appalling.
"I had all these symptoms, but nothing was being recognised and they weren't willing to get me in for testing.
"I kept trying to self diagnose, I asked if I could be tested for fibroids or endometriosis.
"I went for a scan and an ultrasound but all I really needed to have was a smear.
"I was very upset when I was diagnosed but I feel angry too.
"Everything was put on hold during Covid - which caused a lot of extra suffering."
Lolly, who works in e-commerce and has a vintage clothing business, said the cancer has spread but says she is hesitant about radiotherapy and chemotherapy, fears losing her fertility, and would prefer alternatives.
She said: "I don't want either if I can avoid them.
"I am pretty against what the NHS has to offer as it seems pretty barbaric and outdated."
Jane Pilkington, interim director of population health at Greater Manchester Health and Social Care Partnership, said: “We are very sympathetic to Lauren’s situation and recognise how difficult this diagnosis will be for both her and her loved ones.
"Health professionals are now working through treatment and care options with Lauren and ensuring she has the support she needs.
“Work is underway across Greater Manchester to tackle the backlog in planned care and reduce waiting times for patients.
"Cancer treatment and care has been prioritised during the Covid-19 pandemic but regrettably all NHS services have been impacted to some degree.” A gofundme page has been set up to help Lolly.
What the NHS advises about screening:
- Women and people with a cervix aged 25-64 are eligible for screening. Those registered as female with their GP practice are invited for routine screening every three years if they are aged 25-49 and every five years if they are aged 50-64.
- Cervical screening is not a test for cancer. It helps prevent cervical cancer by checking for high-risk Human Papillomavirus (HPV) which causes nearly all cervical cancers. It means any cervical cell abnormalities can be treated. If left untreated, these cells can develop into cancer.
- Regular cervical screening is the best way to reduce the risk of developing cervical cancer by detecting abnormal cells on the cervix early on. However, like any screening test it is not 100% accurate.
- The symptoms of cervical cancer are not always obvious, and it may not cause any symptoms at all until it's reached an advanced stage. That's why it's important that you attend all your cervical screening appointments.
- Contact your GP if you experience any symptoms, such as unusual bleeding, changes to vaginal discharge, or pain. Don’t wait until your cervical screening test is due.
- Cervical screening saves lives - don’t ignore your cervical screening invite and if you missed your last one book an appointment with your GP practice.
- When someone is diagnosed with cervical cancer, their screening history is reviewed to check that any cervical screening tests and investigations have been carried out in line with national NHS Cervical Screening Programme standards. The information gathered helps to improve the programme and learn more about how cancers develop and how they are diagnosed.
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