A journalist who given the all clear from cancer earlier this year has opened up in a bid to raise awareness of the importance of attending screenings for the disease.

Donna-Louise Bishop, a senior reporter for the Dereham Times and Eastern Daily Press, has urged female readers of the two newspapers to ensure they undergo smear tests for cervical cancer in a column about her own experience with the disease.

Donna-Louise, pictured, had been reluctant to have a smear test in 2016 before being convinced by a nurse to undergo one.

The test revealed she had developed high-grade pre-cancerous cells which resulted in her having most of her cervix removed.

Donna-Louise’s column for the EDP was read by more than 5,000 people over the course of the weekend, and she was subsequently contacted by dozens of women sharing their own similar experiences.

She told HTFP: “I feel very honoured to have a platform at the EDP which has allowed me to speak out about an issue close to my heart.

“Although it was an emotionally challenging piece to write, I am passionate about wanting to raise awareness of the importance of women attending their cervical screenings.

“This routine test could make all the difference for someone who may receive a similar diagnosis as me. Cervical cancer takes a long time to develop and if caught earlier enough it is incredibly treatable.

“If by publishing this column it prompts just one more woman to go for her screening then this is fantastic news.”