A HUSBAND, who lost his wife to cervical cancer last year, has said how her diagnosis "destroyed" him and his three children.
This week is Cervical Cancer Prevention Week, an opportunity to raise awareness of the risks of cervical cancer, and help women and people with cervixes learn about how to reduce these risks and prevent the illness.
David Rice, from Birkenhead, lost his wife Emma on June 29 2023 after a devastating cervical cancer diagnosis.
Emma, 32, began experiencing heavy bleeding and went to her local GP who told her that her coil had become lodged and it had lacerated her womb.
She continued to go about her daily life, losing lots of blood and even becoming anaemic.
After Emma received a professional examination she was diagnosed in February 2022 with stage three cervical cancer.
After a year of treatment, Emma received the devastating news that her cancer was at stage four, and had spread to her lungs in January 2023.
Remembering Emma
In honour of Cervical Cancer Prevention Week, David spoke to the Globe about how life has been since losing his wife and mother to his three children, and how if she was still here she would "urge all women" to book their smear tests.
He said: "Emma believed that all women should be aware of the amount of pain and hell that cervical cancer causes to those who have it.
"She would urge all women to persist in making sure that they book their smear tests and not to miss any".
Every day in the UK, two women lose their lives to cervical cancer and nine more receive a life-changing diagnosis, says Jo's Cervical Cancer Trust.
David explained how Emma's diagnosis "destroyed" him and his children.
"None of us have been able to be the people we once were", he said.
"The kids had to see their mother struggling in shocking amounts of pain and saw her deteriorate".
In a tribute to his wife last year, David, said Emma: "loved to see people happy and would often focus more on others than herself.
"Emma loved to stay active and in shape and was as beautiful inside as she was to look at.
"Being a mother was her true love, she loved her children beyond words, their happiness, safety and wellbeing was the centre of all her thoughts and actions."
David reflected on his life without Emma saying it "has an impact on every aspect of life".
He added: "Birthdays and Christmas are now things that are hard to enjoy.
"The children miss their mother beyond words, as do I. Others do not need to have our experience when we have the best medical service in the world.
"The hardest thing in my life is telling the children that their mother has passed.
"This can be avoided. We should fight to lower the age so that no mother, sister, daughter or those we love have to suffer.
"Cancer relating to death has an impact beyond words for those who fight it and those who are left behind."
It’s vital that you are:
- Attending cervical screening when invited
- Knowing the symptoms of cervical cancer and seeking medical advice if experiencing and encouraging others to do so
- Knowing where to find support and further information.
Find out more about cervical cancer on the NHS website Cervical Cancer.
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