A Kent woman’s harrowing experience with cervical cancer has prompted her to encourage other women to seek medical attention for any suspicious changes in their health. Michelle Grigg, from Folkestone, initially attributed her unusual symptoms like night sweats and bleeding to the onset of menopause, but a subsequent scan revealed she had stage one cervical cancer.
Grigg, 48, first noticed concerning changes in her body, including joint aches and irregular bleeding, and assumed they were related to menopause. Despite a recent negative smear test, further investigation led to a cervical cancer diagnosis. Grigg underwent a course of chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and brachytherapy – a treatment that involves placing small radioactive rods near the cervix.
Fortunately, Grigg was given the all-clear in September and will continue to have regular check-ups to ensure the cancer has not returned. She is now urging other women to be vigilant about any unexplained health changes and not hesitate to seek medical advice.
“My message to others would be get anything suspicious checked out straight away, or you may not be as lucky as I was, and don’t be afraid to ask for help,” Grigg said.
According to NHS data, over 3,200 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer in the UK each year, leading to around 685 deaths from the disease. Grigg acknowledged that her cancer was caught at a very early stage, which significantly improved her prognosis.
“It must have developed really quickly, and I’m very lucky that it was stage one, so it was caught at a very early stage,” she said. “When you look online, and see all your symptoms, it’s really easy to assume it’s nothing.”
Grigg’s experience highlights the importance of being proactive about one’s health and not dismissing potential warning signs, even if they seem to align with common conditions like menopause. The NHS is set to include menopause screening in its health checks from next year, a move that could help identify cervical cancer and other issues at an earlier stage.
