Worksop: Brave survivor Victoria's cervical cancer campaign heads for Parliament

A cancer survivor from Worksop will have her campaign to get the cervical screen age lowered brought before Parliament after winning the support of John Mann MP.
Victoria Cristofis who took her campaign of cervical cancer awareness to the Aurora Centre in Worksop on Wednesday, chats with visitors to the coffee shop.Victoria Cristofis who took her campaign of cervical cancer awareness to the Aurora Centre in Worksop on Wednesday, chats with visitors to the coffee shop.
Victoria Cristofis who took her campaign of cervical cancer awareness to the Aurora Centre in Worksop on Wednesday, chats with visitors to the coffee shop.

Brave Victoria Cristofis, of Primrose Way, had to undergo a full hysterectomy aged just 28 after being diagnosed with life-threatening cervical cancer in 2014.

Women aged 25 and over are required to have cervical screening every three years, but Victoria kept putting off off the test which eventually “saved her life” after doctors were able to detect cancerous cells on her cervix.

Since her recovery, Victoria has been fighting to get the cervical cancer age lowered to 18, holding talks across the district and recently approaching Bassetlaw MP John Mann who agreed to put forward a motion in Parliament.

John Mann said: “Victoria has taken a lead on this issue with a simple and important message.

“ I would like to thank her for her bravery.

“The motion I have put forward in Parliament in support of Victoria’s campaign already has cross-party support, and I hope that she will continue to receive more backing.”

Victoria said she was “thrilled” that her campaign, which was originally focused on the Bassetlaw district, was gaining national attention.

She added: “Young women are dying year upon year and many of their lives could be saved if there symptoms were detected early through cervical screening tests.

“Women under 25 are not exempt from getting cervical cancer, and should be being checked as soon as they become sexually active to ensure the best possible chance of survival if worst comes to worst.

“I can vouch for the fact that nothing can prepare you for a cancer diagnosis- all I could think about was the fact I might not see my little girls grow up.

“But I can also vouch for the fact that a cervical screening test can save lives. If I had kept putting it off, I might not have still been here today.”

Worksop businesses have also thrown their weight behind Victoria’s campaign, providing information leaflets, publicity and photography free of charge.

These include Shaun Bailey Photography, Mule Marketing, Priory Graphics and Bannatyne’s Gym.

Follow Victoria’s campaign on Facebook at www.facebook.com/VickiRightToFight or on Twitter @VickiFight.

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