3 weeks ago
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Strictly star Ellie Leach has revealed her relief after having pre-cancerous cells removed from her cervix following her first ever smear test.
The former Coronation Street actress, 25, took to TikTok on Thursday as she shared a detailed video following her smear test journey after the first test found she was HPV positive and had high grade pre-cancerous cells.
If left untreated pre-cancerous cells can develop into cancer at a later stage.
After a colposcopy and a biopsy confirmed the results, the star then underwent a LLETZ (large loop excision of a transformation zone) which is a procedure to remove abnormal, pre-cancerous cells from the cervix using a heated wire loop with an electric current.
Revealing that she started crying during the procedure, she told her followers 'I just all of a sudden got really overwhelmed and started crying. I don't know why. I just felt really emotional.'
Sharing a video on the day of the procedure, she began: 'Just a little update on my procedure. I've got it today. I'm a little bit nervous. I'm sure I'll be fine. I have to have local anesthetics, so hopefully I won't be able to feel it.'
Strictly's Ellie Leach has shared her relief after having pre-cancerous cells removed - as she urged others to make sure they have regular smear tests in a TikTok on Thursday
Updating them post procedure she explained: 'I'm home now. It was fine. It just was really uncomfortable when they put the anesthetic in.
'So basically, what they do is they just use the speculum to put the anesthetic in the cervix, and then they use like a little loop wire and burn off the cells.
'Obviously they use the anesthetic because it's using like hot wire, so I couldn't feel that. It was just really uncomfortable when they put the anesthetic in.
'I just all of a sudden got really overwhelmed and started crying. I don't know why. I just felt really emotional. I think because it's been going on for ages now, and I've just been like really uncertain about what's going on.
'Then to finally have them like removed, I've just I don't know. It just felt like a bit of a relief. Just bursting tears, and the nurse was like, "You're doing amazing. Like, don't worry."
'They were all so lovely. Made me feel really, really comfortable.'
Checking back in after her results, Ellie revealed the doctors successfully removed the pre-cancerous cells as she urged her followers to get their smear tests done.
'I've had my results through, and they are basically just to confirm that the cells that were removed were CIN1 and CIN2, which means that they are exactly what they thought they were.
The former Coronation Street actress, 25, shared a detailed video following her smear test journey after the first test found she was HPV positive and had high grade pre-cancerous cells
'Feeling so much better about it now. Obviously I know they've been removed so that's great. But I just was waiting for my results, so I just was still a bit like apprehensive about what was going to happen.
'I now just have to go for another smear in six months time. If this has taught me anything, I mean, I knew it was important anyway. But it is so, so, so important to go for your smear tests.
'I know sometimes they can be uncomfortable. I was absolutely fine during mine, but I am aware that like everyone's different. I know that it affects people differently.
'But please, please, please, please go for your smear tests because they genuinely could save your life.
'Obviously, if I hadn't have gone for my first initial smear test, I would never have known that I had the pre-cancerous cells, and now they've been removed. I feel so much better about it.'
WHAT IS A SMEAR TEST?
A smear test detects abnormal cells on the cervix, which is the entrance to the uterus from the vagina.
Removing these cells can prevent cervical cancer.
Most test results come back clear, however, one in 20 women show abnormal changes to the cells of their cervix.
In some cases, these need to be removed or can become cancerous.
Cervical cancer most commonly affects sexually-active women aged between 30 and 45.
In the UK, the NHS Cervical Screening Programme invites women aged 25-to-49 for a smear every three years, those aged 50 to 64 every five years, and women over 65 if they have not been screened since 50 or have previously had abnormal results.
Women must be registered with a GP to be invited for a test.
In the US, tests start when women turn 21 and are carried out every three years until they reach 65.
Changes in cervical cells are often caused by the human papilloma virus (HPV), which can be transmitted during sex.
English (US) ·