URGENT UPDATE: A mother’s alarming experience with cervical cancer is raising critical questions about NHS smear test policies. Paige McCall, 23, reports being denied a smear test 14 times due to her age, despite suffering heavy bleeding during her pregnancy. This negligence was only uncovered after a biopsy revealed stage two cervical cancer on October 31, 2023.
McCall first noticed abnormal bleeding during her second trimester while pregnant with her daughter, Iris Mason, born in July 2024. After visiting Doncaster Royal Infirmary multiple times, she was informed her cervix appeared “abnormal.” Despite her family history of cervical cancer, health officials refused to conduct a smear test, stating she was under the required age of 25 for such screenings.
“I was in and out of the hospital, bleeding heavily, yet they kept telling me I was fine because my baby was okay,” Paige said. “They ignored my concerns about my cervix because I was pregnant and under 25. It felt like I was being pushed aside.”
After becoming pregnant again six months after Iris’s birth, Paige’s symptoms persisted, prompting six more hospital visits. It wasn’t until she insisted on further testing in August that a doctor finally agreed to a biopsy, which uncovered her cancer diagnosis.
Paige had to pay out of pocket for private treatment, costing her £460, to expedite her care. She is now undergoing chemotherapy and has frozen 11 eggs as she prepares for a hysterectomy. “If I had waited until I was 25, this could have been stage four cancer,” she stated.
With cervical cancer primarily caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV), experts emphasize the importance of early detection through regular screenings. Paige is now advocating for the smear test age to be lowered to at least 16 or made available to those who become sexually active.
She has launched a petition urging health authorities to reconsider age guidelines for smear tests, asserting, “HPV is a cancer virus. We need to protect young women.” Her GoFundMe campaign aims to assist other young women in accessing necessary private care.
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson expressed sympathy for Paige’s situation, stating that anyone exhibiting symptoms should consult their GP immediately. They reaffirmed that current screening age guidelines are based on advice from independent experts, who believe lowering the age could lead to more harm than good.
In response to Paige’s distressing experience, a spokesperson from Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals offered to review her care, stating, “We welcome the opportunity to understand more about her care and explore areas for improvement.”
As Paige continues her treatment, she emphasizes the emotional burden of her diagnosis on her family, particularly her young children. “I’m angry that I have to fight so hard to save my life. It’s scary not knowing what the future holds,” she shared.
This urgent story highlights the critical need for policy change regarding cervical cancer screenings, especially for young women. As Paige’s situation underscores, timely medical intervention can be lifesaving.
For those interested in supporting Paige’s cause, donations can be made to her GoFundMe [here](https://gofund.me/5c100068c) and her petition can be signed [here](https://c.org/BxPgTbQpbN).
