Family demand change in cervical cancer screening laws as woman, 25, dies after disease developed undetected in her teens

A HEARTBROKEN family have demanded a change in cervical screening laws after a 25-year-old woman lost her cancer battle.

Amber Rose Cliff died on Sunday after a battle with cancer that went undetected throughout her teenage years.

The malignancy attacking her reproductive system remained undetected for at least three years as she was not given a screening.

Routine smear testing is only carried out from the age of 25 on the NHS, but Amber's devastated brother Josh is now demanding more flexibility for young women to be screened.

The 27-year-old says his sister began exhibiting worrying symptoms from the age of 18 and went to the doctors on a number of occasions.

Despite asking for screening a number of times, he says his sister was never given one.

Amber and her family eventually took matters into their own hands, as they were convinced she needed to be examined.

Josh said: "We went for a private smear test whens he was about 21, three years after she'd first been to the doctors.

“It turned out that the cancerous tumour in her cervix had been growing for years.”

Amber started chemotherapy and radiotherapy and eventually had to have operations to remove parts of her reproductive system.

But despite periods of recovery, the cancer eventually spread to her lymph nodes, lungs and throat.

Josh said: "She was angry. She felt let down."

Thousands of women are diagnosed with cervical cancer every year, according to Cancer Research UK, and it is very rare in women under the age of 25.

Most health experts agree routinely screening women younger than 25 would be ineffective.

But Josh, from Sunderland, believes Amber's experience proves smear tests for women under 18 need to be readily available in certain circumstances.

The determined brother has , which has now reached more than 20,000 signatures.

He said: “I want it to be called Amber’s Law.“Any female under 25 showing any problems with their reproductive system should have the option of a cervical screening.

“It shouldn’t be mandatory, but that option needs to be there.”

Amber was private about her illness, limiting the circle of people who knew what she was suffering to close friends and family.The Sunderland University business graduate and Gentoo housing officer hid it from those she knew on a daily basis.