Strength in numbers for women facing cancer

WHEN Jo Hings was diagnosed unexpectedly with cervical cancer she didn’t know where to turn for advice.

“It all happened so suddenly,” says the 42-year-old primary school teacher from Horsforth.

“I had always gone to my regular screening tests and they had always been fine and then in 2008 my smear test revealed that I actually had cancer. It was a huge shock as I had no symptoms and felt perfectly well.”

Jo’s cancer was so advanced that she needed to have a radical hysterectomy very quickly. “There just wasn’t much advice out there. I scoured the internet, but the problem with that is that you see so many scare stories,” says the mother- of-two.

Eventually she came across Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust, a charity founded by businessman James Maxwell in memory of his wife Jo. It is the only dedicated UK charity for women and those close to them affected by cervical abnormalities and cervical cancer

“They were so helpful not just with information but also with support. My husband Martin, family and friends were fantastic but it was nice to talk to people who had been through the same thing and could understand what I was going through.”

At the time her children were seven and ten and Jo took the difficult decision to tell them she had cancer.

“I told them the day I was diagnosed. I am really glad that I did. They took it very well and I was worried if I didn’t tell them they would be very confused what was going on.”

Jo had her hysterectomy, aged just 40, on her daughter Lucy’s seventh birthday.

Physically she recovered well from the surgery and was back at work within four months, but she said the emotional side can be a harder.

“I had just turned 40 when I was diagnosed but I had two lovely children. Through Jo’s Trust I have met much younger women, many who have not had children and have lost their fertility as a result.”

Now Jo’s Trust is coming to Yorkshire. They are launching a new group, the first of its kind for Leeds and the region, for women dealing with cervical cancer, which kills around three UK women every day. One woman is diagnosed every three hours.

Jane Williams a health professional specialising in women’s health has been trained by Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust. She says, “This group gives women the chance to get together, knowing everyone there shares similar experiences.

“It will offer whatever support is needed – whether that’s reassurance, information, or simply the chance to relax and have a chat. Our plan is to respond very much to what the women who come along want.”

Jane, who lives near Halifax, hopes the group will meet up every couple of months. “We have a lovely venue in a shopping centre that’s easily accessible for Leeds and the surrounding areas, with free parking.” The first meeting will take place on March 12.

Robert Music, director of Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust, said: “I know that this group will offer wonderful support to women affected by cervical cancer in this community. Women we have supported told us they needed groups like this, they saw a gap and we are delighted to be filling that gap.

“Over the coming months we will see many more groups across the UK offering this vital local service.” Jo says: “I am so pleased this is coming to our area. It will be great to meet with other women who understand what I’ve been through because they’ve been through it themselves – or are going through it right now.”

Both Jane and Jo also want to encourage more women to go for cervical screening.

“I am worried that now they have brought in the vaccination for girls people may stop going for screening,” says Jo. “I want to see more women going for screening. It could save their lives; I know it saved mine.”

SCREENING SAVES THOUSANDS OF LIVES

THREE women in the UK die each day from cervical cancer,. Over 300,000 women a year are told they may have a cervical abnormality that could require treatment.It is estimated that the UK Cervical Screening Programmes save 5,000 lives a year, Although cervical screening coverage across the UK has remained steady (based on the last five years), uptake figures for 2009-10 were lower than 2008-9 when there was an upsurge in screening attendance due to the “Jade Goody effect”.

For details of the first Leeds meeting visit www.jostrust.org.uk. The new national helpline is 0808 802 8000.