A Delayed Diagnosis
- Lorraine Walsh says she was one of the 221 women who has suffered immensely due to misread pap smear tests by a medical group called CervicalCheck. Tragically, her delayed cervical cancer diagnosis has now left her infertile.
- Referred to as one of Ireland’s biggest health scandals, not only were these results wrong, but hundreds of other women reportedly waited months for results from this screening program, which tests for cervical cancer and pre-cancerous changes to the cervix.
- In light of Lorraine Walsh’s story, it is important that you feel comfortable with the medical facility or doctor handling the screening and test. If something doesn’t feel right, go to a different doctor and always make sure to report anything that seems off or strange.
Referred to in the media as one of Ireland’s biggest health scandals, not only were these results wrong, but hundreds of other women reportedly waited months for results from this screening program, which tests for cervical cancer and pre-cancerous changes to the cervix.
Read MoreWhen asked if she ever felt “overcome with anger” over what had happened to her, the activist admitted that the horrible situation did indeed cause her to spiral at times.
Fear, Anger, Anxiety You're Entitled To Your Emotions
"I would say that it nearly drove me insane. And I don’t say that lightly. There was a time around the RCOG (Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists) review process I nearly lost my mind.
"I was being made out to be a crazy woman," she says. "That’s the top and bottom of it."
“There were times when we were in the Department of Health and I whispered to Stephen [Teap] and said, "you say this Stephen because if I say it as a woman, I’ll be dismissed, whereas if you say it as a man, it’ll be taken from you." Stephen Teap lost his wife to cervical cancer and has made it his mission, along with Lorraine Walsh, to help prevent anyone else from having to go through what these women did.
"Being a patient representative… it's a thankless job," Lorraine says. But, she continues to fight on in the hopes that what happened to her and hundreds of women in this country will never happen to another woman in Ireland again.
"There's a peace of mind," she says, "in knowing that other women won't have to go through this."
Mother-of-two Vicky Phelan is fighting for her live after getting diagnosed with advanced cervical cancer because of the scandal, and she is releasing a documentary film, simply titled VICKY, showcasing her "exclusive and intimate journey” fighting for accountability in the CervicalCheck scandal–“one of the greatest health scandals in Ireland’s history.”
Learning About 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. We don't know the cause of Ham's cancer, but HPV (human papillomavirus), a sexually-transmitted virus, causes more than 70% of cervical cancer cases. 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.
The American Cancer Society estimates that the United States will see about 14,100 new cases of invasive cervical cancer in 2022. Cervical cancer screening is critically important because an earlier diagnosis can mean a better prognosis with broader treatment options. In light of Lorraine Walsh’s story, it is important that you feel comfortable with the medical facility or doctor handling the screening and test. If something doesn’t feel right, go to a different doctor and make sure to report anything that seems off or strange.
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 pap test every 5 years or a pap test alone every 3 years.
IVF For Cancer Fighters & Survivors
Many people fighting cancers that affect reproductive parts (i.e. cervical cancer, ovarian cancer, testicular cancer), chose to freeze their eggs or their sperm as a way to preserve their fertility prior to cancer treatment. Some cancer treatments can damage fertility, so it's a preventative measure for people who may want to have children.
In a previous interview, Dr. Jaime Knopman, a reproductive endocrinologist at CCRM NY, says that time is of the essence when it comes to fertility conversations with your doctor. She says, "The sooner we start, the sooner that patient can then go on and do their treatment. A lot of the success comes down to how old you are at the time you froze and the quality of the lab in which your eggs or embryos are frozen in."
"Oftentimes, we just do what we call a 'fast start,’" says Dr. Knopman. "We start them no matter where they are in their menstrual cycle. Because of that, it can sometimes take a bit longer than it would for traditional IVF stimulation. But all in, you're never really talking about more than two weeks."
If you are suffering from infertility, there are many doctors and programs that can help you with alternative plans for motherhood. It’s always worth at least getting the conversation started, as many women who have been told they are infertile wind up conceiving. There is always hope when it comes to health issues.
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