Meet Our Angels

Sorcha

Sorcha

Sorcha Glenn was refused a smear test based on her age (then 22) after becoming concerned that something wasn’t right in June 2013. By the time a doctor examined her three months later, the tumour on her cervix was so large it could be seen by the naked eye.

Sorcha battled through numerous rounds of chemotherapy, radiotherapy, brachytherapy, a radical hysterectomy and full pelvic lymph node clearance. Sorcha passed away in 2014 aged 23 after a 13 month battle with cervical cancer. Since then, Team Sorcha have been campaigning endlessly to abolish the age barriers that are put on cervical screening.

Sorcha’s sister, Orlagh, and mother, Christina, set up The Smear On Demand Campaign as Sorcha's legacy, which now proudly incorporates many other campaigns of a similar nature. We feel we can all be united together under The Smear On Demand Campaign and fight to get justice for our angels.

You can read more about Sorcha's story and campaign on the Team Sorcha Facebook page.

Amber

Amber Rose Cliff was just 25 when she died from cervical cancer after a private smear test revealed she had the disease.

Amber first exhibited symptoms of cervical abnormalities aged 18, however she was unable to access a smear test on the NHS due to her age. After going private aged 21, Amber was told she had cervical cancer. She subsequently died four years later.

Since her death, Amber's dad Darren has been campaigning tirelessly for a change in the cervical screening legislation to enable women under 25 to access the vital cervical screening programme.

We are proud that Darren is part of The Smear On Demand Campaign team and we continue to support him in their mission.

You can read more about Amber and her legacy on their Amber's Law Facebook page.

Amber
Michelle

Michelle

Michelle Frost presented at the doctors aged 21 with worrying symptoms such as bleeding after intercourse and spotting, however due to her age she was refused a smear and told that the bleeding was down to her contraception.

Michelle went travelling and whilst in New Zealand visited a doctors where she was offered a smear test. When looking at Michelle's cervix, the doctor was immediately concerned. Michelle came back to the UK and was diagnosed with cervical cancer.

After battling through gruelling treatment, Michelle was given a terminal diagnosis on Christmas Eve 2013. She had been given a year to live, but two months later she entered a hospice for incontrollable pain and three months later she died, aged just 27. Before her death, Michelle campaigned tirelessly for women of all ages to have access to life saving smear tests in order to help with early diagnosis.

Michelle’s mum, Karen, says: '' Shel was a huge adventurer, full of life, love laughter and a zest for life like no other. She travelled extensively around Australia and Asia sometimes on her own. She so wanted to live, she had so much still to do. It’s so distressing to know that she should be here now, and she would be if someone had listened to her when she asked for a smear at 23.''

Click here to hear more about Michelle's story in an interview she gave on This Morning in 2014.

Emma

In May 2014 Emma Fisk started with worrying symptoms aged 24 and requested a smear but was denied due to her age. Eventually, after a fight, she was given the smear she requested months beforehand and a 3x3 cm tumour was found on her cervix.

Emma had a very rare form of cervical cancer called Neuroendocrine Carcinoma, which wasn't caused by HPV. Even with the HPV vaccine, this cancer would still have developed.

Emma battled through chemotherapy followed by radiotherapy, then combined chemo/radiotherapy and then brachytherapy. In October 2014 she was examined and no tumour was found, however one week before Christmas her scans found it had returned and spread. Emma was given just six months to live.

Emma planned her fairytale wedding and got married in January 2015. In March she got her longed for puppy Duchess, then in May, Emma and her husband moved into her dream house with garden. Sadly 10 days later she passed away. Emma was 25 years old.

Emma's courageous family have been campaigning since her death and have now joined us with The Smear On Demand Campaign.

 

You can read more about Emma's story on the Team Emma Facebook page.

Emma
Dawn

Dawn

Dawn Weston was 24 when she first went to see her doctor in December 2012 about the severe back pain she was suffering. At the time she wasn’t offered a simple smear test as part of the investigation into her illness because she was under the age considered to be at risk, and because while back pain is a symptom of advanced cervical cancer, she displayed none of the other symptoms.

It took weeks of repeated trips to the surgery before she was finally tested in February 2013 and it was confirmed she had cancer.

Dawn and her partner Dan had booked their wedding for July 2014, so they brought the big day forward so they could marry before Dawn started treatment. Three days later, Dawn began intense chemotherapy. Tragically, she died just five months later on May 22, aged 26.

So far, the Dawn Weston Tribute Fund has raised over £28,000 for St Wilfrids where she was treated. Her family have been campaigning for a change of the law in her name to get the cervical screening legislation changed to allow women of all ages to be screened.

You can read more about Dawn and her story on The Dawn Effect Facebook page.

Faye

Faye Knowles Chapman was first diagnosed with cervical cancer in August 2010, aged 24. Faye underwent a radical trachelectomy to remove her cervix to prevent the cancer from spreading.

In October 2011, Faye was diagnosed for a second time but this time with stage 4 cervical cancer that had spread through her lymph nodes. Even with intense radiotherapy and chemotherapy, Faye faced a prognosis of 12 months to live. Faye sadly passed away on 30th March 2013, aged just 27.

Faye was the only daughter of Eileen and Richard, who have since campaigned for change and joined The Smear On Demand Campaign. Faye loved her job as cruise ship dancer with Fred Olsen Cruise Lines and was a top choreographer for Explosive Productions.

Eileen now fundraises to raise money to help pay for private smear testing for women who are unable to access the current NHS system.

For further information the Faye Knowles Chapman Foundation Facebook page.

Faye