A terminally ill mum-of-three who was “too scared” to have a smear test has created a “bucket list” so she can make precious memories with her family in the time she has left.
Amanda Booth was diagnosed with cervical cancer in June last year aged just 27 but following bouts of chemotherapy and radiotherapy, nothing more can be done for the 28-year-old and she now faces a race against time to complete the list of wishes she has compiled.
First on the list is renewing her wedding vows with husband David on Saturday.
Amanda will walk down the aisle of St Francis of Assisi Church in Acklam on Valentine’s Day in a brand new gown to have her and David’s marriage blessed in front of their nearest and dearest.
Two of her children, 11-year-old Demi-Lee and Leon, eight, will also get christened during the ceremony - another wish on her list.
“I just want to make as many memories as possible now,” said Amanda, who lives in the Longlands area of Middlesbrough.
“This list is all things I want to do.”
Others wishes include to go bowling and visit Redcar amusements. Amanda also wanted to go on holiday to Whitby, and thanks to a post on Facebook, the owner of Whitby Holiday Cottages is donating a free four-night stay.
Amanda, also mum to Lucas, five, was given the devastating news she had cervical cancer seven months ago after suffering heavy bleeding.
“I was haemorrhaging a lot,” she said.
“I went to the doctor and was told there was a growth but I didn’t think anything of it. I never thought I would have cancer.
“But two days later, I was haemorrhaging again and had to get an ambulance out.
“At the hospital I then had a test on the growth and a week later found out it was cervical cancer.”
Amanda, who had never had a smear test due to being “too scared” to undergo the procedure, then went for regular chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatment at Middlesbrough’s James Cook University Hospital.
“It did shrink but at first but now I have been told there is nothing more they can do,” she said. “An operation was never an option so now it is now just about keeping me comfortable.”
“I have told the boys that mummy is really poorly but Demi-Lee knows,” added Amanda, who has lost eight stone since her diagnosis.
“She worries a lot but I wanted her to know. I didn’t want to keep anything from her.”
As well as ticking off her “bucket list”, Amanda now wants to use her time to urge other women to go for their smear tests.
“I would say to all women ‘go and get your smear tests done’. I wish I did.
“I did have an appointment but I cancelled it. I was scared about the procedure but looking back, what I am going through now is obviously far worse.”
Currently, only women aged over 25 are eligible for smear tests.
But there have been many campaigns in an attempt to lower the age of screening following some high-profile cases of the disease.
Jade Goody, who died of cervical cancer at the age of 27 on Mother’s Day 2009, prompted government health ministers to review the National Health Service policy not to screen for cervical cancer until age 25.
But medics urge that the disease is very rare in younger women.
According to Public Health England, there are 2.6 cases of cervical cancer in the under 25s per 100,000 women.
Robert Music, chief executive of the national cervical cancer charity, Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust, said: “Cervical cancer is a largely preventable disease thanks to the cervical screening programme which saves 5,000 UK lives a year.
“Yet we know that over one in five women does not take up their screening invitation annually, with this number increasing year on year.
“To know that, for those who delayed their screening before diagnosis, the outcome could have been different, is tragic. The charity urges all women to attend screening when invited, it’s a five-minute test that could save their life.”
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