Refusal to Conduct a Smear Test for Being too Young Results in Death of a 24-year-old

Becky Ryder was told she could not be screened before her 25th birthday and this resulted in a wrong diagnosis of her condition. Becky Ryder could not survive cancer due to a delayed diagnosis. She was refused a smear test earlier citing her young age as a reason. She was told that the test could not be conducted before her 25th birthday.

She had gone to her GP with complaints of bleeding in October 2011. Her doctor informed her that the smear test could not be conducted as she was below the age of 25.

Due to non-availability of the required reports, a wrong diagnosis of ‘erosion of cervix’ was made, when actually she was suffering from cervical cancer. Though she underwent radiotherapy and chemotherapy and was cleared to be cancer free, she died in February this year.

Becky’s husband is now campaigning for permission to conduct smear tests for women below the age of 25, especially if the case warrants it. "It is the question of whether a smear would have stopped the cancer in its tracks or allowed us to catch it earlier. I don’t think they will ever lower the age but I think they should definitely give it to people who ask for it and are concerned. If that had been the case when Becky asked for it, who knows what might have happened."



Source-Medindia