A 28-year-old mother who has just been diagnosed with cervical cancer has pleaded with women of all ages to get a smear test.
Shannon Murphy from Tallaght, South Dublin, received the bad news in June, the day before her birthday and told us, that it proves how important it is to get checked.
The mother-of-four said she had a very “vivid” dream that she needed to have a smear done and now believes it was a premonition.
She added: “It played on my mind so I booked a test. I knew when I was having it done that something was wrong because the nurse kept asking me if I was going on holidays and would I be around if there was any follow up. I told her I would be.
“I went in on June 22 and they had me back in four days later and that’s when the doctor said I have cancer. I had no inclination to go at all, I had no interest in having a smear, it was simply because of the dream that I had it done.
“It was a dream where it felt really real. I rang the doctor and got a smear, there was a queue and I said I might come back, but the nurse, she encouraged to me to stay, I thought nothing of it to go. But I stayed. I know how lucky I am now.
“They told me I had abnormal cells and referred me to Tallaght, and I got a fright but then never thought much about it. They did the tests and removed cells but kept going on about if I was going away and I said I am not.”
Shannon was at home with her four children Cody, nine, Callan, five, Kallie, two and Clea, who will be one next week when she got the call. She said: “It is the worst thing when they say, ‘Bring someone with you’. I knew in my heart.”
Cervical screening is free for anyone between the ages of 25 and 65 and those registered with Cervical Check will receive a reminder in the post.
Shannon is now preparing for her surgery.
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