32-Year-Old Mother’s Bleeding Issues Dismissed For a Year Until Finally Being Diagnosed with Cervical Cancer; The Importance of Advocating for Your Health

Then, Harrington was rushed to the hospital in April after a pelvic infection, also known as Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), lead to sepsis an extreme bodily response to an infection. At this point, Harrington was sure she had cervical cancer, though it’s unclear if her pelvic infection was caused by cancer.

“The doctor still didn't believe I had it but agreed to do a biopsy and 10 weeks later I found out I had cancer,” she told The Sun. “It really upset me because I had suspicions I had cervical cancer, I was getting symptoms. I was quite angry it hadn't been detected earlier.”

And though a cancer diagnosis is never going to be a welcomed one, Harrington did feel a sort of relief when she got the news.

“Although it's a shock to hear, I wasn't shocked because I kind of knew,” she said. “I was relieved because finally they had found out I had got it.”

Harrington is now 18 weeks into chemotherapy treatments, and she also receives daily radiotherapy. Unfortunately, there are a lot of unknowns regarding her current status, but hopefully there will be more answers for her soon.

"At the moment, I know they are treating me to hopefully cure me, but it depends how well I respond to the treatment,” she said. "To the initial chemo, my tumor did shrink, but it's still there."

Understanding Cervical Cancer

Cervical cancer begins in the cells lining the cervix the lower part of the womb (uterus). Treatment options for cervical cancer include surgery, chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy. HPV (human papillomavirus), a sexually-transmitted virus, causes more than 70% of cervical cancer cases. But we’re not sure if Harrington’s cancer was caused by HPV because her pap smear tests came back clear each time, though it is possible to have HPV and still have a clear pap smear test. It’s important to note, however, that other risk factors like smoking can make you about twice as likely to get cervical cancer as those who don’t smoke.

RELATED: A Woman with Stage Three Cervical Cancer Thought her Dream of Motherhood Was Over Until She Found a Surrogate in the Operating Room

Every year in the United States, approximately 14,480 women will be diagnosed with cervical cancer. Cervical cancer screening is critically important because an earlier diagnosis can mean a better prognosis with broader treatment options. The American Cancer Society recommends that cervical cancer screening begins at age 25, and people aged 25 to 65 should have a primary HPV test, an HPV test done by itself for screening, every 5 years. If primary HPV testing is not available, however, screening may be done with either a co-test that combines an HPV test with a Papanicolaou (Pap) test every 5 years or a Pap test alone every 3 years.

RELATED: New Hope for Patients With Cervical Cancer: Adding Immunotherapy Drug to Standard Chemo Treatment Could Improve Survival Time

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The most common symptoms of cervical cancer can include:

• Abnormal vaginal bleeding, such as bleeding after vaginal sex, bleeding after menopause, after douching, bleeding and spotting in between periods or having heavier or longer (menstrual) periods than usual.
• Unusual discharge from the vagina that may contain some blood and may occur between your periods or after menopause.
• Pain during sex.
• Pain in the pelvic region.

Advocating for Your Health

Whether you are currently battling cancer or worried that you might have it, it's always important to advocate for your health. Cancer is an incredibly serious disease, and you have every right to insist that your doctors investigate any possible signs of cancer a lesson we can all learn from Harrington, who, thankfully, trusted her gut and insisted on a biopsy.

Be Pushy, Be Your Own Advocate… Don't Settle

"Every appointment you leave as a patient, there should be a plan for what the doc is going to do for you, and if that doesn't work, what the next plan is," Dr. Zuri Murrell, director of the Cedars-Sinai Colorectal Cancer Center, told SurvivorNet in a previous interview. "And I think that that's totally fair. And me as a health professional that's what I do for all of my patients."

In a previous interview with SurvivorNet, April Knowles explained how she became a breast cancer advocate after her doctor dismissed the lump in her breast as a side effect of her menstrual period. Unfortunately, that dismissal was a mistake. Knowles was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer at age 39. She said the experience taught her the importance of listening to her body and speaking up when something doesn't feel right.

I Wanted My Doctor To Like Me, Then He Missed My Breast Cancer

"I wanted my doctor to like me," she said. "I think women, especially young women, are really used to being dismissed by their doctors."

Figuring out whether or not you actually have cancer based on possible symptoms is critical because early detection may help with treatment and outcomes. Seeking multiple opinions is one way to ensure you're getting the care and attention you need.

Another thing to remember is that not all doctors are in agreement. Recommendations for further testing or treatment options can vary, and sometimes it's essential to talk with multiple medical professionals.

Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.