'Jade Goody's cancer battle saved my life'

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'I'm 23, and since the age of 20, I'd been receiving reminder letters from my GP telling me to have a smear test. I ignored them because I thought I didn't need to worry and I was embarrassed of going for a screening.

It wasn't until I read a story about Jade Goody having cervical cancer back in October that I began to take notice. She's so young and has two young boys. I've got an 18-month-old myself and it was this that made me realise I should go and get checked out.

I went for a smear test in October and 10 weeks later got a letter stating my result was 'abnormal'. I was sent to have a procedure called a colposcopy in December and it showed the cells were severely abnormal which if untreated, could have led to cervical cancer.

I had treatment by cold coagulation last month using a hot probe to burn the cells away. I have to have a follow-up check-up in 6 months, and a smear yearly for the next 10 years.

As I live in Wales, the age here to start cervical screening is 20 but in England it's 25 and it may have been too late for me.

I thank Jade for her high-profile battle with cervical cancer and publicity and if it wasn't for her I would have been none the wiser.

Emma Davies, 23, Wales

More and help information

- What Jade's cancer battle can teach us
- Smear tests: What can I expect?
- Cervical cancer vaccines for all girls
- Cervical cancer: All the facts

By Charlotte Gunn

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angie, 6 months

i am having a hysterectomy on june 10th because of cervical cancer. i had put off having tests because they are so uncomfortable. i was overdue a test by about a year. i ignored all the letters from the hospital and my doctors. i was very scared. then Jade came into the news. i realised i must do something as the alternative to that was very much in the news. mine has been caught before it spreads. Jade saved my life

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