Kim Hanly has spent over a decade supporting women diagnosed with cervical cancer and promoting the importance of cervical screening. Recipient of the 2021 Laura Brennan Award for her patient advocacy work, Kim spoke to us for Cervical Cancer Prevention Week 2024 about her personal journey from cervical cancer diagnosis to patient advocate.
By Hannah Molloy, Communications Team, National Screening Service
Kim Hanly was 26 years old and a mother of two young children when she had her first cervical screening test in 2012. It was also the year she was diagnosed with cervical cancer. Kim’s screening test had shown she had abnormal cells in her cervix. After referral to colposcopy, the Dublin woman was told she had cancer.
“It’s hard to describe how you feel being told at that age that you have cervical cancer, especially having two children. Everything happened quickly. I didn’t have time to wrap my head around what was going on.”
The cancer had progressed to a stage that left no other option but to have a radical hysterectomy. The gynae oncology team at St James’s Hospital in Dublin looked after Kim.
“After the hysterectomy, I imagined my life would go back to normal. It didn’t. I became unwell, bleeding heavily, and needed blood transfusions. I had nobody to talk to. I didn’t know anyone of my age dealing with this. I went online and there were social media groups for people with cancer but not for cervical cancer.”
While Kim was recovering, she decided to set up her own support group. “I was unsure if people would be interested but I gave it a go. It was a simple Facebook page – Cervical Cancer Awareness Ireland (CCAI). I asked my friends to share it. It was myself and another woman I had met in St. James’s - just the two of us for a while.”
Over time it became apparent that women wanted support as more people started to join the group. Kim says “I was contacted to share my story publicly. I got a great reception from speaking out. Women said listening to my story made them go for their cervical screening.”
Kim explains that her journey as a patient advocate accelerated when misinformation about the HPV vaccine started circulating publicly. “I opened myself up, responding to people spreading misinformation. I got trolled but it didn’t stop me. It made me more determined. I was completely out of my comfort zone and that’s when I got to know Laura Brennan. I kept talking about it and kept sharing my story.”
Kim received the Laura Brennan Award in 2021 in recognition of her outstanding achievement in the areas of gynaecological oncology patient advocacy and/or patient and public involvement in research.
Kim is most proud of her part in developing the ‘diagnosis delivery card’ which is given to women diagnosed with gynae cancer. The card contains details of the diagnosis, treating doctor and nurse, and an image of where the cancer is. Kim explains: “I developed it with the Irish Society for Gynaecological Oncology (ISGO). It was borne from a simple idea that gives information about cancer in an easy way. When you are first diagnosed and go to lots of appointments, you don’t take in all the information. The gynaecologist had drawn an image for me showing me where the cancer was. I still have it! I thought it would be good for every woman receiving a cancer diagnosis to get this card and now they do. To know that I played a small part in that is one of my proudest achievements.”
Life after cancer
Kim is living a fulfilling life, including bringing up her children and achieving two Bachelor degrees. She lives daily with the effects of cervical cancer. “I had surgical menopause after the radical hysterectomy and have ongoing issues with my bladder which requires an operation every six months.
“Cervical cancer is a cruel disease. It took half of my 20s and all of my 30s. My advocacy work is really important to me. When I hear a woman saying that she heard my story and went for screening, it makes what I’m doing worthwhile.”
Kim’s advocacy work also includes Ireland’s Cervical Cancer Elimination Partnership. In November, Kim spoke as a patient advocate at an event in the Department of Health to mark Cervical Cancer Elimination Day of Action. “It was a truly remarkable feeling to be there” Kim said, “as it was announced that by 2040 Ireland will eliminate cervical cancer through HPV vaccination, cervical screening and early treatment.” For Kim elimination means “not having to meet women weekly getting a cervical cancer diagnosis as her job will be done and it [cervical cancer] will be gone.”
Meanwhile Kim continues to share her story and to raise awareness about the HPV vaccination and cervical screening. “I’m delighted to be a patient advocate for Cervical Cancer Prevention Week 2024. It’s an opportunity to remind women and people with a cervix that HPV cervical screening is one of the best ways to prevent and reduce the risk of developing cervical cancer. Why choose screening? Because screening can find abnormal cells and can identify cancer at the earliest possible stage.”
- Find out more about cervical screening.
- Check the CervicalCheck register to find out when their next cervical screening test is due. Update the register with your correct address and contact details so that you can receive your invitation and results letters.
- Learn more about Ireland’s target to eliminate cervical cancer by 2040.