Training Co-ordinator Underwent Surgery Including Hysterectomy

An Aberdeen mum-of-two who underwent a hysterectomy after being diagnosed with cervical cancer is raising awareness of the disease and the impact it has on her everyday life.

Emma Morrison, from the Blackburn area of the city, was given the devastating news in June 2019 after a routine smear test, which identified abnormalities, and a biopsy.  She underwent a hysterectomy.

Around two years prior, Emma had undergone tests when a previous smear had found abnormal cells.  A biopsy was carried out at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary but she said she never heard anything further.

Following her cervical cancer diagnosis, Emma instructed medical negligence experts at Irwin Mitchell to investigate the care she received and whether her cancer should have been diagnosed and treated sooner. 

With investigations ongoing, Emma has joined her legal team in supporting Cervical Cancer Prevention Week by raising awareness of the disease.

Expert Opinion

“The past few years have been incredibly difficult for Emma and her family as she battled cancer.

She has a number of questions and concerns regarding her diagnosis and we’re now investigating these to provide her with the answers she deserves.

Sadly, through our work, we come across many people affected by cervical cancer, and Emma hopes that by sharing her story she can help others be aware of the disease. Early detection and treatment is key to beating cancer.

We will continue to support Emma and join her in marking this important campaign.”
Nicola McCartney - Solicitor

Emma attended a routine smear test on 18 August, 2017.  Abnormal cells were found and she underwent a biopsy a few weeks later. 

Emma said she didn’t hear anything further and was not invited to a follow-up appointment so returned to her “normal day to day life.”

She received another routine letter for a smear test on 5 April, 2019.  Around that time, she also made an appointment with her GP to discuss some abnormal bleeding she had experienced. The smear test was carried out, with abnormal cells identified.

Emma was referred for further investigation and saw a doctor two months later.  She told her legal team she was advised that she should have received a follow-up to the biopsy in 2017, but she has no record of them communicating this to her.

She underwent a further biopsy and said she was informed that it was likely she had cervical cancer and she would likely need a hysterectomy.  Diagnosis was confirmed around the end of June 2019.

On 5 August that year Emma, who lives with her husband Chris, 35, and two children, Max, five, and Mia, three, underwent surgery including a hysterectomy.  She was off work as a training co-ordinator for six weeks.

She said: “Finding out I had cancer was devastating.  I remember feeling completely blindsided and very upset at the news as I hadn’t once thought it would have been so serious.

“I feel drained and tired all the time.  Before the cancer, I was really into my fitness and had a personal trainer, and I would go to the gym five days a week.  Now, sometimes I don’t go to the gym or exercise at all in the course of a week.

“I suffer from insomnia and low mood, which is made worse by the fact that Chris and I will not be able to have any more children.  We feel incredibly blessed to have Max and Mia, but we had wanted to have a third child at some point.  This decision has been snatched from us, and I really struggle with it.

“I think a lot about how my whole life has been turned upside down, and I wouldn’t wish this pain and suffering on anyone else.  I have an amazing family, who have supported me every step of the way, and I really hope that by telling my story it will make others aware of this terrible disease and what it can do.”

Cervical Cancer Prevention Week runs from 18 to 24 January.  For more information visit www.jostrust.org.uk.

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