Teacher, 25, died after being diagnosed with cervical cancer just DAYS after attending her first routine smear test
A teacher has died after being diagnosed with cervical cancer which was picked up at her first routine smear test.
Gemma Marsh, 25, passed away just six months after she was told she had the disease.
She was called to her local GP in Wolverhampton, in November 2012, having just turned the minimum age for a cervical screening.
Gemma Marsh, 25, died on May 27 - just six months after she was diagnosed with cervical cancer. She was treated at Wolverhampton's New Cross Hospital (pictured)
Just days afterwards, the primary school teacher was told her results showed abnormalities and she was asked to attend a hospital appointment.
Three days later, Ms Marsh received a phone call saying a surgeon wanted to speak to her.
She went to Wolverhampton's New Cross Hospital where she was given the devastating news that she had a tumour.
Over the next few months she underwent intensive chemotherapy and radiotherapy sessions.
But on May 17 doctors told her there was nothing more they could do because the cancer had spread to her liver and stomach.
She died at home ten days later surrounded by her friends and family.
Her devastated parents, Shan and Darren Marsh, are calling for the screening age to be lowered to save future lives.
Legislation was changed in 2003 to mean regular smear tests are only given to women aged 25 and over.
The primary school teacher's parents, Shan and Darren, said that she compared herself to Jade Goody (pictured) who died of cervical cancer in 2009 at the age of 27
They also revealed Gemma had compared her plight to that of Big Brother star Jade Goody - who died from the same disease in 2009, aged 27.
The government came under pressure to lower the age of cervical cancer tests after the death of the reality TV star.
Darren, a 47-year-old van driver, said: ‘I think they should lower the age to stop this happening to other people.
‘Doctors said she could not have known it was there inside her before the smear test.
‘She compared herself to Jade Goody in the way she reacted to the treatment.
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF CERVICAL CANCER?
Cervical cancer is a rare form of cancer that develops at the entrance to the womb.
It is most common in sexual active women aged between 25 and 45.
Because of routine screening in the UK it is usually picked up in the precancerous stage.
It often has no symptoms in the early stages.
The most common symptom is unusual bleeding, especially after sex or between periods.
It is recommended that all women between the ages of 25 and 49 are screened for cervical cancer every three years.
Women aged between 50 and 64 are offered screening every five years.
Source: NHS Choices
‘She was always bubbly and chatty, even during her treatment. Gemma was able to get on with everybody, I think because she listened to people.
‘She always wanted to be a teacher. She set her heart on it. We are all devastated.’
Her mother, Shan, 48, added: ‘Gemma suspected something wasn't right when she went to hospital the first time.
‘We were met by a gynaecologist and a Macmillan nurse and they told her she had a tumour.
‘She was devastated. She was just asking what was going to happen, whether she was going to die.
‘She kept asking doctors why. She asked them could she have changed anything in her life to avoid it.
‘There were lots of tears, and as the treatment followed, she was devastated as her hair started to fall out just before Christmas.
‘I think she roughly knew when she was going to die but there was that slight chance treatment would give her some extra years.
‘She didn't cry, because she didn't want us to get upset, and that gave her the strength to carry on.’
Ms Marsh, from Wolverhampton, had landed her 'dream job' as a teacher at Great Bridge Primary School, in the West Midlands, and was looking forward to moving in with boyfriend Alex Lees, 32.
Headteacher, Liz Regan, said Ms Marsh had brought a 'fizz and sparkle' to the job and her death had hit staff and pupils 'unbelievably hard'.
Parent Shoana Knight, whose daughter went to Ms Marsh's school, added: ‘She was a fantastic teacher who touched many hearts.
‘It was a total shock to hear of the awful news a few months ago and even more of a shock to hear she had lost her battle against that horrid disease last week.
‘My heart goes out to all her family and friends and to all the children at Great Bridge Primary School, life is so cruel such a young age to be taken away.’
The school will be closing on Monday and Tuesday next week as a mark of respect.
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