A grandmother from the Scottish Highlands is sharing her powerful story to highlight how a routine, two-minute medical check-up saved her life from aggressive cervical cancer.
A Fateful Delay and a Life-Saving Test
Gayle Maxwell, now 50, was 39 years old when she received a devastating diagnosis. On 17 February 2015, doctors informed her she had cervical cancer. The detection came just weeks after she finally attended a smear test at the start of January that year, an appointment she had initially postponed to enjoy the Christmas holidays.
The screening revealed a tumour that was growing rapidly and aggressively. "If I hadn't had the smear test done at that time, or if I'd waited, you're talking about a whole different game," Ms Maxwell stated emphatically.
Aggressive Treatment and a Clear Path
Following the diagnosis, Ms Maxwell underwent major surgery in April 2015 to remove the tumour and other affected areas. Her treatment did not stop there; she then endured a course of chemotherapy and brachytherapy, a form of internal radiotherapy.
She reflects on the critical timing, noting, "The surgery removed the tumour... but if I'd been any later in my detection, it could have been inoperable." Her proactive approach paid off. By October 2015, she was given the all-clear, followed by five years of vigilant six-monthly check-ups.
A Plea to Others: Confront the Fear
Now a clinical support secretary for NHS Highland and a mother of three with four grandchildren (and another on the way), Ms Maxwell is a passionate advocate for early detection. She is supporting the Scottish Government's 'Be The Early Bird' campaign, which stresses the benefits of finding cancer early when more treatment options exist.
Speaking from her home in Lochgilphead, Argyll and Bute, she offers clear advice: "My advice would be – as daunting as a smear test might be, the results of not having one could be much more challenging. The test takes minutes."
She understands the anxiety that prevents people from attending screenings but warns against it. "I totally understand the fear which stops people from getting tested, not wanting it to be something bad, but that fear is not going to make the outcome any better," she said. "If you go and get it done, you might be at a stage where things can be treated in a better way, a faster way, a much more successful way."
In Scotland, cervical screening is offered to women and anyone with a cervix aged between 25 and 64. Health experts consistently stress the importance of attending every invited screening, even for those who have received the HPV vaccine, with routine tests occurring every five years.
Ms Maxwell's message is simple and powerful: "A smear test found my cancer early – and saved my life, now I'm living well and enjoying family time."
