THE heartbroken family of North Yorkshire woman who died from cervical cancer at 25 are to meet with their MP in a campaign to lower the age for routine smear tests.

Emma Fisk, from Cliffe near Selby, had repeatedly been to her doctor after suffering stomach pains and other symptoms, but had been refused a smear test because of her age.

She was eventually given a test and subsequently referred to York and then St James' Hospital in June 2014, where a scan discovered a tumour and Emma was diagnosed with neuroendocrine carcinoma - a very rare form of cervical cancer. 

Emma underwent immediate chemotherapy and chemoradiotherapy and was told she would not have children. But in December she was given the devastating news the cancer had spread to her liver and the lining of her stomach and she had six months to live. 

Emma (pictured below on her hen do) died months after marrying her partner of seven years Dan Fisk, 28, and days after moving into their new home.

York Press:

Ashley Crawford, Emma's step mum, said: "Emma was perfect. She was hardworking and dedicated and absolutely adored Dan. 

"She was very close with her family and saw us all regularly."

Emma had been diagnosed with ulcerative colitis in December 2013 following a number of visits to the doctors but when she mentioned noticing spots of blood the hospital told her it was unconnected and she had to contact her GP. Following a number of requests she was given a smear test.

In Emma's case it did show abnormalities but rare forms of cervical cancer do not always show in smear tests, experts have said. 

In the hope of saving other women, Ashley, Emma's mum Adele and her sisters Sam, Amanda and Jordan, and Emma's friends, are leading a campaign to have the age women are first called to their smear test lowered from 25 to 18-years-old. 

They will meet with local MP Nigel Adams next week with the hope of gaining his backing for the campaign. 

Ashley said: "We are fighting for 18, it used to be 18, I don't know why it was changed. I've heard so many young girls who may have been saved if they had a smear test. Things would have been very different for Emma if she had a test at 18.

"Cervical cancer can be there for a long time before there are any symptoms. When Emma was diagnosed she already had a 3cm tumour. 

"Emma knew it was all wrong and she thought smear tests should be available for younger girls."

York Press:

In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, women between the ages of 25 and 64 are screened.

Screening for those aged between 25 and 49 is every three years and it is every five years for those who are aged between 50 and 64 years.

The Department of Health has said cervical cancer is rare in young women and screening women under the age of 25 means that a high number of them will be told that their results are abnormal, as cervical abnormalities are common in women under the age of 25 and tend to regress over time.

- The Team Emma Campaign can be found on Facebook.