Woman whose cervical cancer was missed following routine smear test may never become a mum

A woman whose cervical cancer was missed following a smear test has been awarded £65,000 in damages, saying she now may never be able to become a mum.

Lauren Young, 33, felt ‘heartbroken’ that medical professionals failed to diagnose her sooner, saying she feels the delay has drastically cut her chances of becoming a parent.

Young, from Stotfold in Bedfordshire, had to have her cervix removed after her cancer was missed, following a routine smear test in 2015.

She was initially told by specialists she had ‘borderline changes’ in Human Papillomavirus (HPV), but was later advised of ‘no abnormal cells’ following a colposcopy done at Lister Hospital in 2015.

But at her next screening three years later, Young reported spotting, and after an MRI scan and biopsies, this turned out to be a grade two carcinoma of the cervix.

Lauren Young

She said: “I felt like I was listening to someone else’s results, it didn’t feel real.

“I was in disbelief. All sorts of thoughts go through your head, ‘I’m too young’ or ‘how can this be happening?’ You don’t imagine it to happen to you.

“I had radical surgery in the form of a Trachelectomy and Pelvic Lymphadenectomy in December 2018 at Watford General Hospital, where they removed my cervix.

“I’m so grateful to still be alive, but there is now a worry that I may never become a mum, which really frightens me. I’m thankful to Veritas Solicitors for at least giving us the chance of having children via IVF, which is not something my partner and I would have been able to afford otherwise.

“All my sisters have children, and I’ve wanted to be a mum ever since I can remember.”

Young, a professional photographer, is now having to use her settlement money to fund IVF treatment to try and conceive.

In 2018, her original smear was reviewed as part of the National invasive Cervical Cancer Audit, and the classification was upgraded to Glandular Neoplasia.

This meant the cancer cells could have been present at the time of the initial test.

After being told about the error by a consultant leading her treatment at Watford General, Young made a formal complaint to Lister Hospital.

Lauren Young

The investigation concluded that, while difficult for a medical professional to spot, there were potentially subtle changes present in 2015, and that a biopsy at the time may have helped in the diagnosis.

A claim was made against East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust, which took over Ipswich NHS Trust where the pathologist was employed at the time, after Young’s case was taken on by Veritas Solicitors in August 2020.

The firm obtained independent expert evidence showing the 2015 cervical specimen had been wrongly reported as having ‘borderline changes’, and that a biopsy would have confirmed pre-invasive cancer rather than developing into a tumour requiring radical surgery.

According to the NHS, symptoms of cervical cancer include:

• vaginal bleeding that's unusual for you – including bleeding during or after sex, between your periods or after the menopause, or having heavier periods than usual
• changes to your vaginal discharge
• pain during sex
• pain in your lower back, between your hip bones (pelvis), or in your lower tummy

The NHS adds on its website: "If you have another condition like fibroids or endometriosis, you may get symptoms like these regularly."

Young, who has now been cancer-free for four years, is calling for changes to the testing age range which she believes could save lives.

She continued: “The fact that cervical cancer can affect younger women is often overlooked. I’m calling for a change in cervical screening to include women under 25.

Lauren Young

“My advice to other women is if you feel something isn’t right, get it checked. Listen to your body and don’t put it off.

“People need to trust their instincts and not be afraid to speak up if they have concerns. Early detection can save lives, and I hope my story will encourage other women to be more vigilant about their health.”

Her solicitor, Amina Ali from Veritas Solicitors, added: “Lauren’s case highlights the importance of seeking legal advice if you have concerns about the medical care you have received.

“We hope that by sharing Lauren’s story, we can raise awareness of the impact that medical negligence can have on people’s lives and encourage others to come forward.

“It’s important to be aware of your rights and feel empowered to seek legal advice if you have concerns about your medical care. I also hope Lauren’s powerful story will inspire other women to be mindful about their own health. I wish her all the best in the future.”

Dr Angela Tillett, Chief Medical Officer at East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust, told Tyla in a statement: “We are very sorry for the impact this has had on Miss Young. The Trust has accepted liability in this case and has been working with our lawyers to make a settlement for the claim.”