Speaking Up, Smear Tests & The Messages That Changed Everything
When I first shared my diagnosis publicly, I wasn’t thinking about making a difference.
I was just trying to survive it.
It felt easier to write it down than to explain it a hundred times. Easier to post than to answer messages. So I started documenting my journey — the treatment, the emotions, the reality of life with stage 3C1 cervical cancer — on Instagram.
What I didn’t expect were the messages.
“I finally booked my smear because of you.”
“I’ve been putting it off for years — but I’m going.”
“You’ve made me realise how important it is.”
Those messages changed something in me.
Cervical cancer is often spoken about in hushed tones. It’s awkward, stigmatised, and tragically under-discussed — especially for younger women. And yet, every day, people are being diagnosed. Every day, someone is trying to make sense of words they never imagined they'd hear.
Cervical cancer is far more common than we talk about.
It’s the second most common cancer in women under 35 in the UK.
Around 3,200 women are diagnosed every year.
2 women lose their lives to cervical cancer every day.
And nearly 1 in 3 people invited for cervical screening don’t go.
Sometimes it’s fear. Sometimes embarrassment. Sometimes it’s just not knowing what symptoms to look out for.
But knowing what’s normal for your body — and when something isn’t right — really can save your life.
Some symptoms of cervical cancer can include:
Unusual vaginal bleeding (after sex, between periods, or after menopause)
Changes in discharge
Pain during sex
Discomfort in the pelvic area
Ongoing lower back pain
These symptoms don’t always mean cancer — but they do mean it’s worth getting checked. You deserve to be taken seriously.
Who is The Eve Appeal — and why does their work matter?
One organisation I’m incredibly proud to support is The Eve Appeal — the UK’s leading gynaecological cancer research charity.
They work to fund life-saving research, raise awareness, and offer real, accessible support. Their nurse-led helpline, Ask Eve, is a free and confidential service where you can speak to someone about symptoms, smear tests, risk factors — anything you’re worried about.
📞 0808 802 0019
📧 nurse@eveappeal.org.uk
🔗 eveappeal.org.uk
They do the work that should already be happening in our healthcare system: educating, listening, advocating, and reminding people that their concerns are valid.
If you’ve been putting off your smear — please, book it.
If something doesn’t feel right — speak up.
If you’ve felt too scared, too ashamed, too dismissed — please know: you are never overreacting when it comes to your body.
We can’t control everything cancer takes from us. But we can change the way we talk about it.
We can make it easier for the next person to be seen, to be heard, and maybe even to be diagnosed earlier.
Thank you to The Eve Appeal.
And thank you to every single person who messaged me and reminded me why sharing matters.
— Hollie x