Levenvale mum speaking out about cervical cancer will save lives - says councillor

dailyrecord.co.uk:

A brave Levenvale mum battling incurable cervical cancer will save lives by sharing her story, West Dunbartonshire Council’s deputy leader has said.Last week we told how mum-of-five Carrie Henderson had urged women to get regular smear tests and trust their bodies if something feels wrong, after doctors gave her just 18 months to live following a devastating cancer diagnosis.Carrie’s calls have been backed by Michelle McGinty, deputy leader of West Dunbartonshire Council, who is a cervical cancer survivor.Councillor McGinty was given the all-clear in 2017 after undergoing a radical hysterectomy having received the crushing news that she had cervical cancer a year earlier.She says she avoided smear tests for more than two decades, and only discovered she had cancer after an unscheduled test was carried out during a doctor’s visit.

A test that saved her life.Hailing Carrie for speaking so openly about her diagnosis, Councillor McGinty said: “I think Carrie is showing tremendous bravery in raising awareness of cervical cancer and the importance of smear tests.“The fact that she is encouraging others to trust their instincts and get help in the face of such a devastating diagnosis for her and her family is inspirational.“I have no doubt that Carrie’s courage in telling her story to help others will leave behind a legacy that will see many lives being saved.“When I went public with my experience, I had lots of women and girls stopping me to tell me that because of what they had read they had booked their smear and Carrie’s story is so powerful that it will encourage many others, especially young mothers, to take up screening.“This is something that is so important with cervical cancer as it often has no symptoms until it is