A NEWCASTLE Emlyn woman who lost her mother to cervical cancer at just 47 says having a smear test saved her own life, and now she wants to encourage others to get tested.

With attendance rates for cervical cancer screening dropping, brave Gemma Hands has decided to share her mother’s heartbreaking story, as well as her own more positive outcome, with Cambrian News readers to encourage women to attend smear test appointments.

Gemma was 20 years old when she went to her first cervical screening. The results revealed abnormalities but she didn’t need treatment on that occasion.

Over the years, further test results were inconsistent, and when she was 26 years old her doctor referred her to a colposcopy clinic for further examination.

The results were worrying. Gemma was told her abnormal cells were severe and there was a serious threat of cervical cancer.

By this time, Gemma, who works as a learning support assistant, had two children and was happy to have a hysterectomy, but she was discouraged from this because of her young age.

Instead, she had four procedures to remove the cells and, fortunately, has been clear of abnormalities ever since.

But her mother wasn’t so lucky.

Mum Debbie underwent radiotherapy and chemotherapy for six years before getting the all-clear but, sadly, her cancer returned and she lost her battle aged just 47.

That was nine years ago – leaving behind Gemma, 20 and her seven-year-old sister.

Gemma said: “I hope my mum is proud of me for trying to encourage people to have smear tests. I think she would have done the same.”

See this week’s South Ceredigion paper for the full story, available in shops and as a digital edition now