15 November 2023 , 20:10
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Pop icon Kylie Minogue has hailed the courage of a terminally ill woman who is campaigning to raise awareness of cervical cancer.
Wendy Clarke, 46, was given a year to live last January when she was told her disease is incurable. And the mum of two is using her remaining time to work tirelessly to urge women to get smear tests to stop the cancer becoming a killer.
Wendy met Kylie, who had breast cancer in 2005, for a Christmas special BBC awards show. And the 55-year-old singer told her: “You’re achieving amazing things. I’m so proud of you. To be handling the information and the diagnosis, and just getting through day by day, I can appreciate that, I share some of your story.
Cervical cancer campaigner Wendy Clarke“But to be translating that into empowering others, I could only just say thank you for these acts of bravery and selflessness. It’s incredible.” Wendy, from Fairfield in Stockton-on-Tees, Co Durham, said of Kylie: “She’s a lovely lady. For her to spare her time for me, it’s amazing.”
Wendy was diagnosed in 2005 and given the all-clear in 2006 – but her cancer returned this year and she began treatment to prolong her life. She said of her drive to get other women checked: “I’m aware there’s one or two people out there who have gone and got their test based on me nagging them.”
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Wendy told how she did not get tested “out of fear”. But she added: “The fear of the smear test is nothing compared to the fear of what I’m going through now. I regret not going for my smear test. Do it, it’s worth it. You can’t put a price on your life.”
There are around 3,200 new UK cervical cancer cases every year. Most are preventable and yesterday No10 pledged to eliminate the disease by 2040. NHS England chief exe-cutive Amanda Pritchard said a mix of HPV vaccination and screening makes that aim realistic.
* The Make a Difference Awards Special with Kylie airs on all BBC local radio stations at 9am on December 26.