Cork influencer's message to women: ‘Don’t fear the smear’

A Cork-based influencer is urging women not to ‘fear the smear’ after she was diagnosed with cervical cancer following a routine health check.

Helena Brosnan, perhaps better known by her Insta handle of ‘superbetty79’, didn’t experience any symptoms at all prior to her diagnosis.

She’s just recently completed her treatment and, while awaiting a scan in September, she is using her platform to encourage women to ensure they’re up to date with their smears.

“You can find out when your next one is due on Cervical Check. A smear only takes a few minutes and could save your life. I know life gets busy and it’s easy to put things off, but this is so important. Know the symptoms, listen to your body, and put yourself first,” said the 46 year old.

Originally from Castleisland, Helena has been living in Cork longer than in Kerry. She works in a solicitor’s office in the city and has a passion for fashion which she indulges on her hugely popular Instagram page.

A smear back in 2010 revealed abnormal cells in Helena’s cervix and since then she has been monitored regularly at her GP and/or in St Finbarr’s colposcopy clinic.

“After abnormal cells were first found in 2010, I was treated with the LLETZ procedure – a treatment for abnormal cervical cells. I’ve had yearly smears ever since, with potentially cancer-causing HPV showing up intermittently.

“In September, ’22, it was HPV only, September ’23, HPV only, and then September, ’24, HPV plus abnormal cells showed up. Last December, I had another LLETZ removal and thought nothing of it and believed it would be just like the last time,” she said.

However, it wasn’t so straightforward.

“On January 20, while walking home from work, St Finbarr’s called to say some cells remained after the LLETZ and I needed to come in the following Monday to discuss further treatment.

“Never in my life did I imagine I’d be told I had cervical cancer. I always believed because I was being checked regularly this would never happen to me,” said Helena.

She admits to being in complete shock when she was given her diagnosis.

“Once I found out, I drove home, I don’t know how, and rang my family. It was absolutely devastating telling them and we were all in total shock.

“One minute I was happily walking home listening to my podcast, the next I’d been told I had cancer. I cried and cried for the first few days and couldn’t believe it. I was waking up thinking it was all a dream.

“After a few days, I pulled myself together, reviewed all the documents I had kept on to and previous smear results, and realised it must have been caught early. Telling myself it was early stages helped me cope and gave me the strength to believe I’d get through it,” said Helena.

After an MRI and PET scan, she met with the oncology gynaecologist who recommended a full hysterectomy as the best treatment.

“That was a bit of a shock and took a while to accept, but hearing it would be the best cure I just had to go with it. The surgery was on March 19 and was open surgery rather than keyhole. But when the surgeon went in he discovered cells beyond the cervix, he decided chemo radiation would be more effective. To enable the radiation do its best job, the cervix needed to be in place.”

When she woke from surgery and was told the hysterectomy hadn’t happened, she was relieved.

“The idea of being thrown straight into menopause had me nervous, even though, at 46, I know I’m already on that train. I guess I was just happy I got to keep all my bits.”

The new plan became five weeks of chemo radiation (one day chemo/five days radiation) plus four sessions of brachytherapy (internal radiation), which began on April 28 and finished on June 16.

The hardest part in the whole process, Helena said, was the waiting – for scans, results, then waiting to start treatment.

“Once treatment started, I can honestly say it was OK. I made a decision to dress up every day and do what I could to feel good.

“Once I knew the routine of the chemo and radiation from day one, I just got on with it. I turned up every day with a smile and wore bright colours. Dressing up felt like my armour, dressing up and feeling good.

“Four weeks of my treatment was during the heatwave in May and waking up to blue skies every morning made such a difference to my mindset.

“The fatigue hit me from day one but I just went with it and dealt with it. You really have to take each day as it comes because you never know how you’re going to feel after each session, but thankfully, I feel like I sailed through it.”

Sharing her journey on her Instagram with her 17,000 followers she calls her ‘Bettys’, while unplanned, was a great coping strategy.

“It was never my intention to share the whole journey, but when I put that first video out telling everyone about my cancer and encouraging everyone to go get their smears, the support I received was incredible.

“That’s when I thought, I need to keep sharing this journey so no-one else would have to go through this. My daily chats honestly got me through it.

“It felt like I was just talking to my friends, like a little therapy session each day. The constant support was overwhelming and the Bettys will never know just how much they helped me through every single day,” she said.

Helena said she’s always been a positive person and her cancer journey has magnified that.

“I’ve learned how strong I actually am and that when something like this happens, you really have no choice but to stay strong and fight.

“I used to always wonder how I would ever cope if I was told I had cancer, but now, after going through it, I hope I’ve shown that it’s not as scary as we all think and that we all have the strength inside us to get through anything we put our minds to,” she said.

Life now is all about celebrating, even the little things, she said.

Helena’s treatment is complete, and she’ll be scanned in September.

“It can be a very anxious wait, but I’m staying positive and truly believe it did what it needed to do.

“I’ll have check-ups every three months for the next two years, then every six months for a few more.

“It sounds a lot, but for me it’s reassuring to know I’ll be closely monitored.”

Since sharing her story, so many women have reached out to say they are starting their journey and that she has helped take away some of the fear and unknown.

“That means the world to me. I have a platform and I’ll keep shouting it from the rooftops until every woman in Ireland and beyond gets their smear.

“I like to call it ‘punanny watch’ and if it helps even one person avoid going through what I did, then it’s all been worth it.”

I made the decision to dress up every day and do what I could to feel good.