A MUM-of-three has died of cervical cancer after missing a vital smear test by just six months.
Jay Griffin had previously urged other women to book their tests after she missed hers due to the stresses and strains of normal life.
Smear tests aren’t tests for cancer but can help prevent it by catching it early.
All women aged 25-64 should be invited by letter and from the age of 25 you should have them every three years.
Jay’s friends and family have now paid tribute to the ‘kind’ mum, who is survived by her sons Louis, 16, Jamie, 12, and 11-year-old Brandon.
In April 2019 Jay, 34, who lived in Hitchin, Hertfordshire, suffered a haemorrhage and pelvic bleeding.
She needed five blood transfusions and it was her brave children who called 999.
It was this experience that led to her diagnosis of cervical cancer.
Jay had to have chemotherapy before being given the all clear in late 2019. In March last year she encouraged women to book their smear tests.
She said: “I think if anyone feels different about their body below or any concerns, just go and get in touch with your GP.
“I would say ‘look what happened to me’, the treatment I had done and the operations I had to have, the months and months of pain afterwards and all the side effects I’m having to deal with, it’s all much worse than a smear test.”
Jay also encouraged people to have the Human papillomavirus (HPV) jab in school, which protects against HPV types 16 and 18, which cause the greatest risk of cervical cancer.
Sadly, Jay passed away on August 10 and her funeral was held on September 6.
‘WON’T BE FORGOTTEN’
Her friend of 18-years, Kellie-Amanda told HertsLive that Jay was an ‘all-round nice person’.
She said: “She was a very good mother to her three children, she’s a very good friend and she was always so kind to everybody.
“Even when she was going through her cancer treatment, she was a single mum, she was so supportive of other people in their times of need.
“That’s one thing everyone has said about her, her kindness and support won’t be forgotten by anybody.”
