A devastated mother has urged young women to demand smear tests – after her own daughter died from cervical cancer aged just 25-years-old.
Emma Fisk begged for a screening after suffering a string of symptoms in 2013, but was refused because she was considered too young to be at risk.
It was only when she was later diagnosed with colitis – an inflammation to the inner lining of the colon – that she was finally referred for a smear test by her gastroenterologist.
Unfortunately, when she was eventually diagnosed stage 2b neuroendocrine carcinoma, it was too late.
Now, her mother, Adele Willis, 52, of Ackworth, West Yorkshire, has publicly lifted the lid on her grief to save others from a similar fate.
Tragic: Emma Fisk died in June 2015, just two months after marrying husband Daniel
Now, her mother, Adele Willis, 52, of Ackworth, West Yorkshire, has publicly lifted the lid on her grief to save others from a similar fate
‘She rang me after leaving the hospital, as the doctor had told her it might be cancer. She was in tears, and kept saying, “Mum, I’m only 24”,’ Mrs Willis told The Sun.
Six months of chemotherapy and radiotherapy followed, which caused her to lose her hair.
But she successfully finished the course and, initially, the prognosis looked good.
However, doctors later noticed that the cancer had spread – and was terminal.
‘The news brought the whole family to their knees. We were devastated,’ Mrs Willis added.
‘She passed away as I held her hand. Losing Emma has left a void and pain I cannot explain.’
Today, she wants others to be checked-out. Mrs Willis said: ‘If you are under 25 and have symptoms, see a GP and demand one. Don’t take no for an answer.’

Ignored: Emma Fisk begged for a screening after suffering a string of symptoms in 2013, but was refused because she was considered too young to be at risk

She lives on: Mrs Fisk’s family have now all pulled together and started the Team Emma Campaign, which encourages other young women to get tested
‘If girls were called up for smears earlier, from the ages of 18, then our beautiful Emma might still be here with us today,’ Mrs Willis told MailOnline in 2015.
‘She was fit and healthy and slim – she didn’t smoke or take drugs or drink. She was the model daughter. She loved everyone and they loved her. She was such a beautiful person inside and out and we are so lost without her.
‘[Speaking about this] is a really painful thing to do, but we don’t want other people to suffer like Emma.’
The family have now all pulled together, to start the Team Emma Campaign and create a legacy for her.
It comes as Public Health England has launched its own nationwide initiative to encourage more women to undergo the intimate exams amid the worst screening levels in 20 years.
Almost a third of women aged 25 to 49 have missed their latest smear test and in some surgeries three quarters have not had it.
Experts say have attributed the fall to fear and embarrassment as well as a lack of convenient GP appointments.
Professor Anne Mackie, director of screening programmes at Public Health England said: ‘The decline in numbers getting screened for cervical cancer is a major concern as it means millions of women are missing out on a potentially life-saving test.
‘Two women die every day in England from cervical cancer, yet it is one of the most preventable cancers if caught early.
She added: ‘We want to see a future generation free of cervical cancer but we will only achieve our vision if women take up their screening invitations.
‘This is a simple test which takes just five minutes and could save your life. It’s just not worth ignoring.’
There are 3,000 new cases of cervical cancer in the UK each year and 1,000 deaths.
Risk factors include smoking, having multiple sexual partners and a prolonged use of the contraceptive pill.
Screening is offered every three years for women aged 25 to 49 then every five years until the age of 65.

Fatal: Screening uptake rates spiked ten years ago following the death of reality TV star Jade Goody, on 22 March 2009
Figures published by NHS Digital in November showed that just 71 per cent of women had attended their latest screening, the lowest rate since 1997.
Amongst the 25 to 49 age group the uptake was just 69 per cent and at some GP surgeries it is around 25 per cent.
Screening uptake rates spiked ten years ago following the death of reality TV star Jade Goody, on 22 March 2009.
The 27-year-old had missed numerous smear test appointments despite having a history of abnormal results.
But the national uptake has since plummeted again and rates are particularly low in London and other large cities.