A BASINGSTOKE mum who did not have a smear test for six years is urging women to stay up-to-date with cervical screening appointments after discovering she had cancer.

Natalie Riley failed to attend cervical screening appointments for six years, saying she never believed she would get cancer.

The mother-of-one from Oakridge found out in December last year that she had pre-cancerous cells in her cervix and the vulva.

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She has since needed two operations this year to remove part of her cervix and vulva and is waiting for the results of tests to see if it has spread any further.

Her warning comes as the NHS has revealed that many women and those with a cervix in Hampshire are not attending cervical screening appointments.

Also in this week's paper:

  • A couple from Basingstoke have reopened their bar in Basingstoke after taking inspiration from their holiday to America.
  • A campaign grouphas said they are “not surprised” that an appeal has been filed after plans to build a distribution hub near Junction 7 of the M3 were thrown out by the councilfor a second time.
  • Residents have expressed their shock and worry following a flat fire in Basingstoke last week.
  • A delivery driver fell asleep, swerved onto the other side of the road and crashed into an oncoming vehicle.
  • A nursery in Basingstoke has been rated as requires improvement in a latest Ofsted report due to “weakness in staffing” following the Covid-19 pandemic.
  • The MP for Basingstoke has called on the council to get house building under control and said that Basingstoke has “consistently over-delivered on houses”.
  • Councillors have raised concerns that residents’ worries regarding plans to regenerate an area of Winklebury are being “neglected” and “ignored”.
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  • The latest business news
  • Three pages of entertainment news
  • Three pages of local sports news
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