'I had stage three cervical cancer - vaccines will protect my kids from the same fate'

A mum who battled cervical cancer is hopeful the disease could be eradicated in the next generation.

Around six women in Scotland are diagnosed with cervical cancer every week, but the widespread uptake of the HPV vaccination programme is bringing the country closer to eliminating the disease altogether.

While experts say Scotland is on track, uptake in schools – both for girls and for boys – remains crucial to prevent not just cervical cancer, but other cancers too.

Mum-of-two Clare Scott began experiencing symptoms a week after her 36th birthday in October 2021.

She spent six months trying to find answers before receiving her devastating prognosis.

Clare, now 38, told STV News: “I had really heavy vaginal bleeding before my diagnosis, passing clots the size of the palm of my hand. I had severe back and stomach pain – it got to the point where I couldn’t sit down for long.

“I would put a hot water bottle down the back of my trousers because I couldn’t sit at my desk for long.

“It was mentally and physically exhausting. I was so tired all the time. I had really bad anemia as well.”

After being referred for tests, she was diagnosed with cervical cancer in March 2022.

Further tests revealed the cancer had spread to her lymph nodes and had reached stage three.

Clare’s biggest worry was how her children, Jacob, 12 and Chloe, 11, would take the news.

“Nothing prepares you to be told you have cancer. The first thing I could think about was their faces, and having to tell them, breaking their hearts.”

In June 2021, Clare began an “aggressive” treatment programme which included five rounds of chemotherapy, 29 rounds of radiotherapy, and four sessions of brachytherapy which left her “mentally and physically exhausted.”

But she fought through it for the sake of her kids.

“It destroyed my confidence,” she said. “I woke up before my fourth cycle of chemo. I couldn’t see past a brick wall.

“But I had to get up and be a mum and be a pillar of strength. [My children’s] dependence on me was massive.

“Coming home, cooking dinners, packing lunches, school runs. They got me through it.”

Three years on, Clare is still managing the aftermath of this life-changing illness.

She takes comfort in knowing that her daughter Chloe’s chances of developing cervical cancer are significantly reduced thanks to the HPV vaccination programme.

Doctor Kevin Burton from the Eve Appeal said: “Within Chloe’s lifetime there’s a very high expectation we could eliminate cervical cancer. There’s all the building blocks in place, great government support and expert groups to make sure we stay on target with vaccination, screening, treatment.

“We don’t want to see young girls like Chloe affected by the need for treatment.”

Statistics show Scotland’s HPV vaccination programme is working.

Since it was introduced in 2008, zero cervical cancer cases have been detected in fully-vaccinated women.

Boys were included in the programme back in 2019, but uptake is still lower, and overall vaccination rates haven’t fully recovered since the pandemic.

Experts stress that achieving the goal of eliminating cervical cancer will require higher vaccination rates across the population.

Dr Burton added: “It’s important that boys do take up the offer of the HPV vaccine because it protects against HPV, head, neck and anal cancers and also against genital warts.”

Although Clare herself missed out on the vaccine, her children will benefit from the programme.

Clare said: “My son’s now in high school and due to receive his vaccine in next week or so. I know they know because of what they’ve seen me go through.

“There’s a level of comfort knowing they’ll be protected and hopefully never have to go through what I went through.

“We speak about how important the vaccine is. My two always say it’s so important to get vaccinated, and that means the world to me.”

Clare also urges women to ensure they take up cervical screenings.

“We all go to the dentist, and that’s not the most comfortable thing. For the sake of five minutes and the benefit to your own health, go and get your smear done.

“You never know what could happen around the corner.”