House of Fraser display creator Kelly Russell was 25 when a smear test revealed she had cervical cancer – but after successful treatment it is now a "distant memory"and her first baby is due in a few weeks.
Mrs Russell, 31, of Kenilworth, said: "I have had regular smear tests since I was 17. This one came back showing there were abnormal cells present which turned out to be cancerous.
"It was quite a shock, but at the same time I have three close fri
ends who had abnormal cells results and been through the same thing.
"Luckily it was caught in the early stages, but it can spread and stop you having children.
"A biopsy was sent off and I was called back within the week and went to London to have an operation to remove a small part of the cervix.
"They did a test on it to see if it had spread – it hadn't.
"I felt really relieved and quite lucky that I had a good chance of having children. I had been in a long term relationship for four years and we are now married and expecting a baby.
"It's all a distant memory now.
"If I hadn't had the smear test it could have been a lot worse. It's really important that people go for the smear tests because cervical cancer is quite a common thing in our society, but you never think it is going to happen to you."
Pictured right, Kelly Russell at work.
The full article contains 265 words and appears in Leamington Courier newspaper.
