A MUM of one who has recovered from cervical cancer wants to encourage other women to make sure they attend regular smear checks.

Anita Wigglesworth from Longtown in south west Herefordshire was diagnosed with cervical cancer as the age of 38 following a routine smear test in 2000.

She has suffered none of the typical symptoms of cervical cancer and had no genetic links so the diagnosis was a shock.

Anita's first thought turned to her son, Joshua, who was just ten at the time.

Her cancer was caught before it spread and the tumour was small enough to be operated on; just a week after her diagnosis she underwent a hysterectomy.

She said: “I had only just come to terms with the fact I had cancer and felt grateful that it was treatable but the hysterectomy was another huge blow.

"I had only recently met my partner and we had plans to have children together as he didn’t have any himself, so this made my treatment even harder to deal with.

“At the time I felt so unfortunate that I had ended up with cancer. Now I just feel lucky that my cancer was treatable and I was able to watch my son grow up."

Since her illness, Anita has encouraged her friends to make sure they attend their smear checks and champions awareness of the symptoms of cervical cancer.

Anita also wanted to give something back and on Saturday, May 28 she will join over 3,000 other women taking part in Women V Cancer Ride the Night, riding 100km through London at night.

The money raised will go to Breast Cancer Care, Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust and Ovarian Cancer Action.

There are usually no symptoms with abnormal cervical cells and sometimes there are no symptoms with early stage cervical cancer.

However, there are some recognised symptoms associated with cervical cancer. These include: abnormal bleeding: during or after sexual intercourse, or between periods; post menopausal bleeding, if you are not on HRT or have stopped it for six weeks; unusual and/or unpleasant vaginal discharge; discomfort or pain during sex; lower back pain.

If you would like to support Anita, go to www.justgiving.com/Anita-Wigglesworth1