The late Sorcha Glenn.
BRAVE Sorcha Glenn, who died of cervical cancer after being refused a smear test, left Christmas presents for her boyfriend and family, they have said.
The 23-year-old Derry woman died in October in the arms of her long-term boyfriend Matt Lynch.
Matt said: “Sorcha was such an organised person that I wasn’t surprised when she finished all of her Christmas shopping early. It was typical of her to think of other people while being in so much pain and discomfort.
“She kept on buying us all things while she was in hospital but she kept it all a secret. I still have no idea what she has brought me so it will be a bittersweet moment on Christmas day when I finally open my gift.”
Sorcha’s family and Matt are now campaigning for women under 25-years-old to be given a smear test on demand, which they believe could have saved Sorcha.
Matt said: “She began suffering from back pain and had bleeding between periods just two months later, she knew something wasn’t right.
“After being initially refused a smear test she went back to her GP who carried out a smear as part of an examination.
“They noticed a polyp, a mass of tissue, on her cervix and she was referred.”
Sorcha first visited her GP surgery in June 2013 – she asked for an early smear test after being worried about her family history of cervical cancer – but she was refused due to being under the age of 25.
Sorcha was diagnosed with cervical cancer in September and underwent rounds of chemotherapy and radiotherapy in a bid to save her life.
Her mum, Christina said she was speaking out again about Sorcha in a bid to save other women’s lives.
“I have no idea what she has bought me for Christmas but it breaks my heart knowing she won’t be here to share the day with us,” said Christina.
“I hope that by sharing Sorcha’s story that other women look out for the symptoms of cervical cancer and sign her petition so those under 25 can get a smear test on demand.
“I don’t want another family to go through what we’ve been through.”
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