Latest news with #Queen'sHospital
Yahoo
07-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
'I almost skipped my smear test, but instinct saved my life'
A 36-year-old woman who almost didn't go to her cervical screening because she was embarrassed about being examined says the decision to go saved her life after abnormal cells were discovered by the doctors, and she was diagnosed with stage 1 cervical cancer. Anna Millington, a mum of one from London who works in HR, then underwent a gruelling treatment process. Anna says in June, 2021 she wanted to avoid her cervical screening as she was at the end of her period and was worried about being examined. But Anna had the gut instinct that something wasn't right and eventually went for the test. Her screening detected a positive HPV result and identified the abnormal cells. Anna says at the time, her main worry was the possibility of not being able to have any more children. The thought of cancer hadn't even crossed Anna's mind. She went through a colonoscopy and LLETZ treatment, the burning of cervical cells, which she describes as being a traumatic experience. READ MORE: Jaffa Cakes owners send cease and desist letter to museum READ MORE: Woman put off GP appointment for holiday and came home to worst news It was a six-week wait following Anna's additional tests and although not experiencing any cervical cancer symptoms and having a clean bill of health, she had a call from Queen's Hospital, Romford, requesting she came in the following day to discuss her results. Anna was diagnosed with stage 1 cervical cancer. With children still on her mind, she had asked about her options and the possibility of freezing her eggs but was told that she had an aggressive form of cancer and was encouraged to begin treatment immediately. 'Before cervical cancer, life was full of hope and dreams for the future,' Anna says. 'I was planning to extend my family, to have more children, to grow into the next chapter of motherhood with excitement. 'But all that was taken from me - in a single moment. One diagnosis. One conversation. And just like that my fertility was gone. It's hard to put into words what it feels like to lose something so deeply personal, something I never even had a chance to have. I felt numb. Everything around me just stopped. I was scared but almost instantly something inside me shifted. I knew I had to fight this. I had my daughter, Penelope, 10, to live for. She was and is my anchor, my reason, my everything. Yes, I was afraid but more than that I was ready for battle.' During the period from July to September 2021, Anna's diagnosis had gone from Stage 1 to Stage 3 and the cancer had spread to her lymph nodes, meaning further treatment. On September 28, the day after her birthday, she underwent a radical hysterectomy. Anna endured 25 rounds of radiotherapy, five rounds of chemotherapy, and brachytherapy – a procedure involving the insertion of a device to kill cancer cells. Eight months after her cervical screenings on February 12, 2022, Anna received the all-clear. However, the aftermath left her with fertility issues, early menopause, lymphedema and fatigue as well as her experience taking a huge toll on her mental wellbeing. 'Treatment was exhausting,' says Anna, who was treated at St Bartholomew's Hospital, London and had surgery at the Royal London Hospital. "It pushes you to your physical and emotional limits in ways you can't fully prepare for. Anyone going through cancer treatment is a warrior. There's no other word for it. It's tough, relentless and it takes everything out of you. 'My whole body felt drained - like I was running on empty but still had to keep going. Chemotherapy made me feel cold to the bone, a chill no blanket could fix. And radiotherapy was intense - this was five days a week for five weeks straight. It became my full-time life, and yet it was also a fight for my very life. It's a journey that strips you down, but also shows you how much strength you carry inside.' But despite her brutal experience, her diagnosis has given Anna a whole new lease of life and she's determined to go on as many adventures as possible whilst offering her support to others that are on their own cervical cancer journeys. She does this via her Instagram page, @cervical_cancer_and_me, where she raises awareness and inspires others going through similar journeys. 'I started my Instagram page because, when I was first diagnosed, I searched everywhere for someone like me. Someone real and honest about what going through cervical cancer actually feels like,' Anna says. 'But there weren't many platforms that showed the truth behind the diagnosis - the grief, the strength, the unknowns, the impact on fertility, identity, relationships… all of it. 'So I created a space not just to share my journey, but to connect with others going through the same or similar. I wanted to help people feel less alone, and to start the conversations I wish had been there for me. This page is about awareness, yes - but it's also about community, honesty and hope. Because none of us should have to walk this path in silence.' From an HR perspective, Anna believes that employers can play a crucial role in supporting employees through health challenges such as cervical cancer. She advocates for companies to provide comprehensive health services, including full body MOT checks, and to allow an additional half-day on top of allocated annual leave to attend cervical screening appointments given the lack of after-hours options. Anna wants to call on employers to support their employees to attend their potentially life-saving screenings. Anna's encouragement comes following research ahead for Cervical Screening Awareness Week last month, where it was revealed that over a third of women (35%) said they've put off attending their cervical screenings due to work commitments. The research, conducted by gynaecological cancer charity, the Lady Garden Foundation, also found that half (50%) of the women polled said they had felt pressured to prioritise work over personal health appointments, including cervical screenings. Nearly a third (31%) of women admitted to having booked annual leave for their screenings, whilst shockingly, 16% said their boss or workplace had insisted they book time off to attend their appointments. Nearly a third (31%) also claimed that their boss or workplace would not see their cervical screening as a good reason to be off work. 'Companies should try to create compassionate, flexible sick leave policies,' Anna explains. 'People going through cancer treatment need time — not just to survive, but to recover. Flexibility around appointments, phased returns, and realistic expectations are essential. Employers have a legal duty of care to protect their employees' health and wellbeing.' Anna also believes employers should offer paid health checks, payroll giving, support fertility and menopause conversations, offer emotional and mental health support and be inclusive of carers and loved ones. 'Companies should also run internal campaigns about cancer prevention, early detection, like cervical screening, and what support is available,' she adds. 'Awareness can save lives. You can also implement cancer champions to support this. Another good idea is to raise money for charity – getting the whole team involved and talking. Supporting employees who are caring for someone with cancer is just as important. Flexibility and empathy make a big difference during what is often an emotionally and logistically challenging time.' Anna's personal journey through cervical cancer during lockdown has inspired her to advocate for better awareness on the screening process, de-stigmatise HPV and help other women break down the barriers they may face in the workplace when it comes to attending their potentially lifesaving cervical screening appointments. 'I was fortunate that my employers were supportive during my cervical cancer journey, however, I have friends and family where that hasn't been the case,' Anna adds. 'As a HR specialist myself, I urge those who don't feel comfortable talking to their line manager to seek guidance from their Human Resources team who are there for support.' Anna wants to raise awareness of cervical cancer and to point out that while she's not the same person she was before, she's stronger than ever. 'I wish people knew that I am not the same person I was before I had cancer - and that's not a bad thing,' Anna says. 'I've carried pain, fear and loss most people never see. I've had to rebuild not just my body but my sense of self. I've grieved the future I thought I had and leaned to love the life I'm now creating. I wish people understood that even though I smile and show strength, there are still days I'm processing what I've been through - the trauma, the scars, the body changes, the fertility loss, the emotional weight of it all. 'But most of all, I wish people knew that I'm still me - Just more aware, more present and more determined than ever to live with honesty and an open heart. Cervical cancer changed me - but it didn't break me. It made me softer in some ways but fiercer in others. And I'm still here. 'I'm living each day as it comes by making the best memories for me and my daughter and living every day to the fullest.' Find out more about gynaecological cancer charity, the Lady Garden Foundation and their 'Encourage Your Team to Screen' campaign at
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
It's the oldest of its kind in the U.S., and it's located in Hawaiʻi: 6 things to know
HONOLULU (KHON2) — Hawaiʻi is home to many things that are the oldest, rarest and only in existence in the United States. On a warm April morning in Makiki, dozens of baseball fans, historians and city leaders gathered to celebrate a piece of American sports history that many people don't know has deep roots in Hawaiʻi. At Cartwright Neighborhood Park, the sound of cheers and the crack of a bat rang out not just for a game, but for a legend. April 17 marked the 205th birthday of Alexander Joy Cartwright Jr., a man many call the 'father of modern baseball'. It was also the day the City and County of Honolulu recognized Cartwright Neighborhood Park as the oldest active baseball field in the United States. Mayor Rick Blangiardi threw the ceremonial first pitch and unveiled a new sign that proudly explained to the world what local fans have known for generations. Baseball has deep roots in Hawaiʻi. 'Alexander Joy Cartwright is a national treasure,' Mayor Blangiardi said. 'It is only fitting that this park bearing his name be forever recognized as the birthplace of baseball as we know it.' Back in 1852, Cartwright helped lay out a baseball field on a parcel of land in Makiki. That field introduced many of the basic rules and layout we still use today. There's a diamond-shaped field, 90-foot base paths, nine-player teams and nine-inning games. That same field, which is now known as Cartwright Field, is still active 173 years later. Athletes of all ages play there and have made it a historic and living part of the community. Cartwright wasn't just a sports pioneer. He was also a leader in Hawaiian civic life. He served as the first fire chief of Honolulu, served as a trustee at Queen's Hospital, advised Hawaiian royalty like Queen Emma and King David Kalākaua and helped found several major institutions that included what is now First Hawaiian Bank. His story connects two worlds: the history of baseball in America and the rich cultural and political life of Hawaiʻi in the near the pitcher's mound was Anna Cartwright, Cartwright's great-great-granddaughter. Her voice was filled with pride and emotion as she honored her kūpuna and the connection her family still feels to this land. 'On behalf of my entire family and our beloved kūpuna, it is a profound honor to witness this historic moment,' she said. 'This tribute to my great-great-grandfather and the field he laid out 173 years ago reflects not only a significant chapter in baseball history, but also the enduring connection our family shares with this ʻāina and the community.' She reminded the crowd that baseball in Hawaiʻi is more than just a game. It's about camaraderie, sportsmanship and joy. And those values are still alive at Cartwright Park today. The celebration was a celebration of our unique history in Hawaii . It was also about the people who are keeping the field vibrant today. Mayor Blangiardi honored several groups and individuals for their hard work. These includied the Friends of Alexander Joy Cartwright, Jr., the Honolulu Fire Department and Mālama Kīpuka Hawai'i which is a local organization that helps maintain and improve the park. Their work includes cleaning the grounds, upgrading the field, creating murals and installing signs that teach visitors about Cartwright's legacy. It's part of their kuleana, or responsibility, to care for the spaces that bring people together. 'Sports and recreation are essential to the well-being of our communities,' Blangiardi said. 'Cartwright Park continues to serve as a living tribute to Cartwright's extraordinary legacy and the enduring spirit of baseball in Hawai'i.' Even though Cartwright died in 1892, his spirit lives on. At Oʻahu Cemetery, fans still leave baseballs, gloves and hoʻokupu (gifts of respect) at his grave. It's a reminder of how deeply he's remembered, not just for what he did for baseball, but for what he gave to Hawaiʻi. This year, Mayor Blangiardi made it official: April 17 is now Alexander Joy Cartwright Jr. Day in Honolulu. Get news on the go with KHON 2GO, KHON's morning podcast, every morning at 8 So, the next time you hear 'play ball!' in Makiki, know that you're standing on the grass and dirt that are part of long legacy. You're standing on history, a history where key elements of modern baseball were shaped. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
