Grieving mum warns young women to have smear tests (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Grieving mum warns young women to have smear tests

12:40pm Saturday 26th September 2009

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The mother of a talented chef has called for young women to make sure they go for regular smear tests after losing her 29-year-old daughter to cervical cancer.

Siobhan Smith’s daughter Jennifer Butler died peacefully at Manorlands Hospice, Oxenhope, near Keighley.

Jeni, a single mother-of-one, who lived in Cornwall Road, Bingley, was head chef at the Brown Cow pub in the town. She had been diagnosed with cervical cancer shortly before last Christmas.

Following treatment she was given the all-clear on June 23. But just as the school summer holidays got under way she began to get pain in her chest and a cough.

Mrs Smith, 54, also of Cornwall Road, Bingley, urged Jeni to go the doctor, who diagnosed a chest infection.

But when antibiotic treatment failed to work and Jeni began vomiting and was unable to swallow, doctors ordered a CT scan and endoscopy.

On August 17 doctors broke the news the cancer was in her chest and lungs and she was admitted to St James's Hospital in Leeds. It was there on September 2 she called her mother to her bedside to break the news she had only months to live.

But in the event her time was much shorter. She was transferred to Manorlands on September 16 for palliative care and died there the next day.

She leaves her six-year-old daughter Taylor, mother Siobhan, father Oliver, three sisters and two brothers.

Mrs Smith, who will now care for Taylor, said: “The cancer was extremely aggressive. It was the cervical cancer that got into her lymph system. It was not a secondary cancer."

Mrs Smith said she felt angry with her daughter when she told her she had not had a smear test since the birth of Taylor. She is now calling on young women to make sure they do not miss the tests.

“We had the death of Jade Goody at the start of the year and her campaign made people sit up and listen,” said Mrs Smith.

“The young think it will not happen to them but you don’t know what is around the corner."

In tribute to her daughter she said: “Up to the end she was still coming home believing she could beat this. She was a very positive person but unfortunately it was not to be.”

A requiem mass to celebrate Jeni’s life will be held at the Church of the Sacred Heart, Crow Nest Road, Bingley, on Wednesday at 10am followed by interment at Nab Wood Cemetery, Shipley.

Family flowers only have been requested and donations in lieu can be made to Manorlands Hospice.

e-mail: claire.lomax@telegraphandargus.co.uk

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