TV Professional's Devastating Cancer Recurrence Following Screening Failure
A television and film industry professional from Wales is confronting a devastating second battle with cancer that medical experts believe could have been prevented nearly a decade ago, following a critical error in cervical screening interpretation.
Missed Opportunity with Life-Altering Consequences
Aimi Hopkins, a 54-year-old wardrobe supervisor whose impressive career includes work on major productions like HBO's House of the Dragon, Netflix's The Witcher, and teen drama Hafiach, received what she believed was a clear cervical screening result in 2015. Medical professionals informed her the test showed no concerns, when in reality the results revealed borderline cell changes that warranted further investigation.
This crucial misinterpretation meant Hopkins was not referred to specialists for additional examinations or potential treatment to eliminate pre-cancerous cells. The error has now been formally acknowledged by Public Health Wales NHS Trust, which admitted a breach of duty in incorrectly recording her smear as normal.
From Symptoms to Devastating Diagnosis
Hopkins began experiencing concerning symptoms including abnormal bleeding, persistent abdominal pain, and overwhelming exhaustion years after the initial screening error. Following three additional smear tests and a referral, she received a positive result for human papillomavirus (HPV) – the virus known to cause cervical cancer – and was sent to gynaecological specialists.
Medical examinations in September 2023 revealed a substantial tumour measuring 5.2cm x 5.9cm x 3cm, approximately the size of a lime, which was diagnosed as stage three cervical cancer. Hopkins, who has worked in the film and television industry for 34 years, was forced to step away from working on Sam Mendes' Beatles movie/biopic following her diagnosis.
Aggressive Treatment and Heartbreaking Recurrence
The Caernarfon resident underwent an intensive treatment regimen including chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and brachytherapy – a specialised procedure that delivers radiation directly adjacent to the tumour. Despite this aggressive approach, Hopkins received devastating news just days before Christmas that the cancer had recurred and metastasised to her bones.
"It's almost impossible to find the words to describe what the last few years have been like," Hopkins revealed. "I've always been keen to ensure I attended regular smear tests. These had previously always been normal so I had no reason to dispute the findings of my 2015 test."
Legal Proceedings and Institutional Response
NHS hospital bosses have acknowledged failures in Hopkins' treatment pathway, and she is set to receive compensation after launching legal proceedings against the health service. Public Health Wales has accepted that their failure resulted in Hopkins not being referred for additional tests and treatment which, on the balance of probabilities, would have prevented the development of invasive cervical cancer.
Shahin Master, the medical negligence solicitor at Irwin Mitchell representing Hopkins, stated: "The last few years and coming to terms with her diagnosis and its impact has been incredibly distressing for Aimi. Understandably, she has had many questions about whether more could have been done to prevent her cancer developing."
A Determined Voice for Change
Despite facing further treatment and uncertainty, Hopkins remains determined to raise awareness about cervical screening and the importance of accurate test interpretation. "If I'd have been told in 2015 that my smear result was borderline and I should have pre-cancerous cells removed, I absolutely would have gone ahead with the procedure," she explained.
"I just hope that by speaking out, I can raise awareness of the issues I've faced to improve care for others. It's also important women feel they don't have to go through cervical cancer alone as help and support is available."
A spokesperson for Public Health Wales expressed heartfelt sympathies to Hopkins and her loved ones, emphasising that the organisation takes cervical screening very seriously and continually reviews its programme to ensure safety and effectiveness. The spokesperson noted they are unable to comment further while legal proceedings remain ongoing.
