A devastated mother has urged young women to demand smear tests - after her own daughter died from cervical cancer aged just 25-years-old.
Emma Fisk begged for a screening after suffering a string of symptoms in 2013, but was refused because she was considered too young to be at risk.
It was only when she was later diagnosed with colitis - an inflammation to the inner lining of the colon - that she was finally referred for a smear test by her gastroenterologist.
Unfortunately, when she was eventually diagnosed stage 2b neuroendocrine carcinoma, it was too late.
Now, her mother, Adele Willis, 52, of Ackworth, West Yorkshire, has publicly lifted the lid on her grief to save others from a similar fate.
Tragic: Emma Fisk died in June 2015, just two months after marrying husband Daniel
Now, her mother, Adele Willis, 52, of Ackworth, West Yorkshire, has publicly lifted the lid on her grief to save others from a similar fate
'She rang me after leaving the hospital, as the doctor had told her it might be cancer. She was in tears, and kept saying, "Mum, I’m only 24",' Mrs Willis told The Sun.
Six months of chemotherapy and radiotherapy followed, which caused her to lose her hair.
But she successfully finished the course and, initially, the prognosis looked good.
However, doctors later noticed that the cancer had spread - and was terminal.
'The news brought the whole family to their knees. We were devastated,' Mrs Willis added.
'She passed away as I held her hand. Losing Emma has left a void and pain I cannot explain.'
Today, she wants others to be checked-out. Mrs Willis said: 'If you are under 25 and have symptoms, see a GP and demand one. Don’t take no for an answer.'
Ignored: Emma Fisk begged for a screening after suffering a string of symptoms in 2013, but was refused because she was considered too young to be at risk
She lives on: Mrs Fisk's family have now all pulled together and started the Team Emma Campaign, which encourages other young women to get tested
Up to eight out of 10 people will be infected with HPV in their lives
Human papilloma virus (HPV) is the name for a group of viruses that affect your skin and the moist membranes lining your body.
Spread through vaginal, anal and oral sex and skin-to-skin contact between genitals, it is extremely common.
Up to eight out of 10 people will be infected with the virus at some point in their lives.
There are more than 100 types of HPV. Around 30 of which can affect the genital area. Genital HPV infections are common and highly contagious.
Many people never show symptoms, as they can arise years after infection, and the majority of cases go away without treatment.
It can lead to genital warts, and is also known to cause cervical cancer by creating an abnormal tissue growth.
Annually, an average of 38,000 cases of HPV-related cancers are diagnosed in the US, 3,100 cases of cervical cancer in the UK and around 2,000 other cancers in men.
HPV can also cause cancers of the throat, neck, tongue, tonsils, vulva, vagina, penis or anus. It can take years for cancer to develop.
'If girls were called up for smears earlier, from the ages of 18, then our beautiful Emma might still be here with us today,' Mrs Willis told MailOnline in 2015.
'She was fit and healthy and slim - she didn't smoke or take drugs or drink. She was the model daughter. She loved everyone and they loved her. She was such a
