Young Mother Dies After Her Cervical Cancer Symptoms Were Mistaken For Pregnancy Complications

Mum Dies After Her Cervical Cancer Symptoms Were Mistaken For Pregnancy Complications
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A mother whose cancer symptoms were initially dismissed by doctors as pregnancy complications has died at the age of 29.

Samantha Beaven, from Brighton, had cervical cancer that spread to her lungs and brain. She died on Monday 4 May.

A post on her Facebook fundraising page read:

"It is with a heavy heart and great sadness we have to announce our beautiful brave Sam passed away peacefully this morning. Sam has been fighting cervical cancer that had spread for over a year; but it was an infection in her lungs that became too much (not the cancer) that took her from us.

"Our thoughts are with her wonderful family and her two adorable daughters. "

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Samantha Beaven with her daughters Bracken and Daisy

Beaven had two daughters, Bracken, six, and Daisy, one, with her husband Alex, 27.

When she was pregnant with Daisy, Beaven suffered from bleeding and cramping, but doctors initially thought the symptoms were nothing more than pregnancy complications.

She said last year: "I felt strongly that something was very wrong. I'd never experienced anything like it with my first pregnancy.

"I must have gone to hospital bleeding at least ten times only to be told nothing was wrong.

"But eventually I had to take the doctors and midwives at their word and trust that things were OK".

Beaven was only diagnosed with cervical cancer when she went into premature labour at 26 weeks and Daisy was born weighing just 2lb 2oz.

The classroom assistant gave up her home, sold her car and even some of the children's toys to raise the money to pay for pioneering life-prolonging cancer treatment in Mexico.

She responded well to the treatment, but developed a lung infection and died just days after returning from the trip.

Last year Beaven decided to share her story with the world to raise awareness of cervical cancer, especially in pregnant women.

"People need to know pregnant women can get cervical cancer too," she said.

"The signs were all there but dismissed as pregnancy symptoms and I'm afraid that has cost me my life".

Although described as "uncommon" by the NHS, cervical cancer claims the lives of 1,000 women in the UK each year and is the most common form of cancer for women under 35.

Some recognised symptoms to look out for include:

* Abnormal bleeding: after or during sexual intercourse, or between periods

* Post menopausal bleeding, if you are not on HRT or have stopped it for six weeks

* Unusual and/or unpleasant vaginal discharge

* Discomfort or pain during sex

* Lower back pain

However, many women with early stage cervical cancer experience no symptoms at all, so Martin Ledwick, Cancer Research UK’s head information nurse, stresses the importance of attending routine cervical smear test.

"Screening allows any abnormal cell changes to be picked up before they can develop into cancer," Ledwick tells HuffPost UK Lifestyle.

"It’s estimated that cervical screening saves around 5000 lives each year in the UK and, since its introduction in the 1980s, rates of the disease have almost halved."

10 Cervical Cancer Facts
Check Your Body (01 of10)
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You know your body best. If you notice any unusual changes like abnormal bleeding from your vagina, pain in your pelvis or lower back, or pain during sexual intercourse, don't ignore it. Make some time to talk to your doctor. (credit:Shutterstock)
Make Healthy Lifestyle Choices (02 of10)
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Eat a balanced diet and try not to smoke. Smoking and exposure to second-hand smoke have both been linked to cervical cancer. If you smoke, reducing your risk of cervical cancer is yet another reason to quit. (credit:Shutterstock)
When Should You Have A Pap Test? (03 of10)
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You should have a Pap test within three years of becoming sexually active, or by the age of 21. If you are currently not sexually active or have not been sexually active in years, experts suggest still getting the test. (credit:Shutterstock)
Pap Tests Should Happen 1-3 Years (04 of10)
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You should have a Pap test performed every one to three years depending on previous results. If you have trouble remembering, there are a number of calender apps you can sign up for. (credit:Shutterstock)
Take The Test At The Right Time (05 of10)
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Doctors recommend you have the Pap test in the middle part of your menstrual cycle — that means between 10 to 20 days after the first day of your period. (credit:Shutterstock)
Don't Do It Before The Test (06 of10)
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Don’t have sexual intercourse 24 hours before the test, as this can affect your results. (credit:Shutterstock)
What About Hysterectomies?(07 of10)
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If you've had a hysterectomy (surgical removal of the uterus), you may still need a Pap test. Talk to your doctor for more information. (credit:Shutterstock)
Practice Safe Sex...All The Time (08 of10)
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The biggest risk factor for developing cervical cancer is an infection of the cervix with human papillomavirus (HPV), a sexually transmitted virus. HPV infections are quite common and most go away on their own, but some don’t. These are the infections that can lead to cancer if they aren't caught by Pap tests and treated early. (credit:Shutterstock)
Get The Vaccine (09 of10)
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Get vaccinated against HPV. The HPV vaccine can help reduce the risk of cervical cancer, as well as vulvar, vaginal and anal cancer. (credit:Shutterstock)
Know Your Medical History (10 of10)
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Know your medical history as well as your family history, especially if anyone in your family has had cancer. However, cancer can affect anyone at any stage of life, so give yourself the best chance for survival by getting it diagnosed early. (credit:Shutterstock)