'I nearly missed life-saving smear test - I'm glad I didn't'

Daily Record

07-07-2025

Anna Millington says 'instinct' told her to go
A 36-year-old mum who nearly skipped her cervical screening due to embarrassment about being examined has revealed that the decision to attend saved her life. Anna Millington, a London-based HR professional and mother of one, says doctors discovered abnormal cells and diagnosed her with stage 1 cervical cancer.
In June 2021, Anna was reluctant to attend her cervical screening as she was at the end of her period and felt uncomfortable about being examined. However, a gut feeling that something was not right prompted her to go for the test, which detected a positive HPV result and identified the abnormal cells.
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At the time, Anna's primary concern was the potential impact on her ability to have more children. The possibility of cancer had not even entered her mind. She underwent a colonoscopy and large loop excision of the transformation zone (LLETZ) treatment, involving the burning of cervical cells, which she describes as a traumatic experience.
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Following additional tests, Anna faced a six-week wait. Despite not experiencing any symptoms of cervical cancer and having a clean bill of health, she received a call from Queen's Hospital in Romford, asking her to come in the next day to discuss her results, reports MyLondon.
Anna was diagnosed with stage 1 cervical cancer and, despite her hopes to expand her family, was advised to start immediate treatment due to the aggressive nature of her illness.
"Before cervical cancer, life was full of hope and dreams for the future," Anna said. "I was planning to extend my family, to have more children, to grow into the next chapter of motherhood with excitement.
"But all that was taken from me - in a single moment. One diagnosis. One conversation. And just like that my fertility was gone. It's hard to put into words what it feels like to lose something so deeply personal, something I never even had a chance to have. I felt numb. Everything around me just stopped. I was scared but almost instantly something inside me shifted. I knew I had to fight this. I had my daughter, Penelope, 10, to live for. She was and is my anchor, my reason, my everything. Yes, I was afraid but more than that I was ready for battle."
Between July and September 2021, Anna's condition escalated from Stage 1 to Stage 3, with the cancer spreading to her lymph nodes, necessitating additional treatment. The day following her birthday, on September 28, she underwent a hysterectomy.
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Anna then faced 25 sessions of radiotherapy, five rounds of chemotherapy, and brachytherapy – a targeted procedure to destroy cancer cells. Eight months after her cervical screenings on February 12, 2022, Anna was given the all-clear. Yet the ordeal left her grappling with fertility issues, early menopause, lymphedema, and fatigue, not to mention the significant impact on her mental health.
"Treatment was exhausting," Anna, who underwent treatment at St Bartholomew's Hospital in London and had surgery at the Royal London Hospital, said. "It pushes you to your physical and emotional limits in ways you can't fully prepare for. Anyone going through cancer treatment is a warrior. There's no other word for it. It's tough, relentless and it takes everything out of you.
"My whole body felt drained - like I was running on empty but still had to keep going. Chemotherapy made me feel cold to the bone, a chill no blanket could fix. And radiotherapy was intense - this was five days a week for five weeks straight. It became my full-time life, and yet it was also a fight for my very life. It's a journey that strips you down, but also shows you how much strength you carry inside."
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Despite the harrowing experience, Anna has found a renewed zest for life and is now embarking on as many adventures as she can. She also offers support to others battling cervical cancer through her Instagram page, @cervical_cancer_and_me, where she raises awareness and provides inspiration to those on similar paths.
Anna revealed the motivation behind starting her Instagram account, "I started my Instagram page because, when I was first diagnosed, I searched everywhere for someone like me. Someone real and honest about what going through cervical cancer actually feels like," Anna explains. "But there weren't many platforms that showed the truth behind the diagnosis - the grief, the strength, the unknowns, the impact on fertility, identity, relationships... all of it."
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She continued, explaining her aims for the platform, "So I created a space not just to share my journey, but to connect with others going through the same or similar. I wanted to help people feel less alone, and to start the conversations I wish had been there for me. This page is about awareness, yes - but it's also about community, honesty and hope. Because none of us should have to walk this path in silence."
From a professional standpoint, Anna views employer support as vital for those dealing with health crises such as cervical cancer. She calls for companies to offer thorough health services, which would ideally include full body MOT checks, and suggests employers grant an extra half-day leave above the usual holiday entitlement for cervical screening appointments, due to the scarcity of out-of-hours options.
Anna is urging employers to support their staff in attending potentially life-saving screenings. This plea comes in the wake of research conducted for Cervical Screening Awareness Week last month, which revealed that over a third of women (35%) have postponed their cervical screenings due to work obligations.
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The study, carried out by gynaecological cancer charity, the Lady Garden Foundation, also discovered that half (50%) of the surveyed women felt pressured to prioritise work over personal health appointments, including cervical screenings. Nearly a third (31%) confessed to having taken annual leave for their screenings, while 16% stated their boss or workplace had demanded they book time off to attend their appointments.
Almost a third (31%) also claimed that their boss or workplace would not view their cervical screening as a valid reason for absence from work.
"Companies should aim to establish compassionate, flexible sick leave policies," Anna said. "Individuals undergoing cancer treatment require time - not merely to survive, but to recuperate. Flexibility around appointments, phased returns, and realistic expectations are crucial. Employers bear a legal duty of care to safeguard their employees' health and wellbeing."
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Anna is of the view that employers should provide paid health assessments, facilitate payroll giving, foster discussions around fertility and menopause, and lend emotional and mental health support while being considerate of carers and kin. "Companies should also run internal campaigns about cancer prevention, early detection, like cervical screening, and what support is available," she states.
"Awareness can save lives. You can also implement cancer champions to support this. Another good idea is to raise money for charity – getting the whole team involved and talking. Supporting employees who are caring for someone with cancer is just as important. Flexibility and empathy make a big difference during what is often an emotionally and logistically challenging time."
Fuelled by her own battle with cervical cancer during lockdown, Anna has become a vocal advocate for increasing awareness of the importance of screening, recasting HPV perceptions, and aiding women in overcoming workplace obstacles to attend cervical screening appointments that could be lifesaving.
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"I was fortunate that my employers were supportive during my cervical cancer journey, however, I have friends and family where that hasn't been the case," reveals Anna. "As a HR specialist myself, I urge those who don't feel comfortable talking to their line manager to seek guidance from their Human Resources team who are there for support."
Anna is on a mission to increase cervical cancer awareness, sharing how the illness has transformed her. "I wish people knew that I am not the same person I was before I had cancer - and that's not a bad thing," Anna states.
"I've carried pain, fear and loss most people never see. I've had to rebuild not just my body but my sense of self. I've grieved the future I thought I had and learned to love the life I'm now creating. I wish people understood that even though I smile and show strength, there are still days I'm processing what I've been through - the trauma, the scars, the body changes, the fertility loss, the emotional weight of it all.
"But most of all, I wish people knew that I'm still me - Just more aware, more present and more determined than ever to live with honesty and an open heart. Cervical cancer changed me - but it didn't break me. It made me softer in some ways but fiercer in others. And I'm still here.
"I'm living each day as it comes by making the best memories for me and my daughter and living every day to the fullest."