Stella McLoughlin, 69, had what should have been her last smear test in 2019.
Once women turn 65, external, they usually stop being invited for screening because it is very unlikely that they will get cervical cancer, and are only invited again if a recent test was abnormal.
She said she was “really delighted” to be told the results were clear and was “enjoying life thinking everything was fine”, until she got a letter saying this was not the case.
The letter from the Southern Health Trust (SHT) said that her last smear test, which had been reported as negative, had been reviewed and now reported “low grade cell changes”.
It went on to state that most low grade changes return to normal over time but a “small proportion” can progress.
Stella said the fact it had been five years since her last smear test “really alarmed” her and she now felt “cheated”.
“I feel cheated because I was given a result five years ago that I trusted,” she said.
Stella has had another smear test since but must wait up to six weeks for the result.
