16/01/2026
My name is Rachael Carey, and I am the Operations Manager here at Pemberton Surgery. January is Cervical Cancer Awareness Month, and I want to support this by sharing my personal experience.
At 26, I was overdue for my first cervical screening. I worked in a GP practice and was part of the admin team responsible for inviting women for their smears, I knew the importance of this test yet I still felt nervous about attending myself. Eventually, I found the courage to book the appointment.
Following my smear, I was invited for a colposcopy. Two weeks later, what was meant to be a routine telephone follow up was changed to a face to face appointment. That was the day I was diagnosed with Cervical Cancer.
Many people don’t realise how rare it is to be diagnosed with cancer at screening. The purpose of the test is to detect pre cancerous changes or the HPV virus, which can lead to cervical cancer. After three months and a few surgeries later, I was given the all clear.
Since September 2015, I have attended my smear every year, and thankfully everything has remained normal. I am now 10 years clear and able to return to routine screening.
This test genuinely saved my life. For a 10 minute appointment with one of our Practice Nurses, it is absolutely worth it. My consultant told me I was incredibly fortunate that it had been found so early and if I had waited until I developed symptoms, it might have been too late. Those words have stayed with me ever since.
Our Practice Nurse team — Denise Andrew, Sarah Madden, and Lucy Harrison, are warm, welcoming, and dedicated to making every patient feel comfortable and supported. They understand that attending a cervical screening can bring up worries or questions, and they always take the time to talk things through with you. Whether you’re feeling nervous, unsure about what to expect, or simply looking for more information, they are there to listen, reassure, and guide you with kindness and professionalism.
To book and appointment with the Practice Nuse you can follow this online link to our Ask My GP service https://my.askmygp.uk/?c=P92019 #/intro, you can call the surgery on 01942 367 199 or you can do so by following the link in your text message invite.
https://www.nhs.uk/tests-and-treatments/cervical-screening/
