One test that changed everything: A story of surviving cervical cancer in Kosovo

“My mornings were for work, my afternoons for family. Life was always busy, always full,” she said. “I never really stopped to think about my health. I always believed there would be time later.”

Then one day, a friend told her about a new health service that offered women a free test for cervical cancer at the Main Family Medicine Centre. Mevlyde decided to go and was among the first women in her hometown to take the Pap test, which screens for signs of cancerous or precancerous cells around the cervix. 

The procedure was quick and simple, taking only a few minutes to complete. But the results that arrived a few days later were devastating: Mevlyde was diagnosed with cervical cancer.  

“I didn’t understand at first. I felt something heavy, but I refused to believe it,” she recalled. “After receiving the results, I went to a private hospital to double-check them. The results were the same.”

Mevlyde said she felt like everything collapsed.

“A dark shadow fell over our home,” she explained. “I couldn’t even tell my mother. I am her only child, and she is older. I carried that fear alone, smiling on the outside while my world was breaking inside.”

Mevlyde consulted with her doctor, who advised that surgical intervention was necessary at this stage. The treatment was successful, and today, Mevlyde is healthy again. 

But the experience changed her outlook on life.

“Before, I put everything before my health – my business, my responsibilities, even my rest. Now I know differently. I was born a second time.”

And she has a message for every woman: do not wait. “You do not need to go to private clinics when the test is available for free. Go for regular check-ups,” she urged. “Early detection saves lives and, in this case, it is free, quick and easy. Health comes first.” 

Preventable and curable

Reflecting on her experience, Mevlyde wished she had more information sooner. “I never knew what cervical cancer was before this,” she said. “I had never thought about it, never heard enough about it. That is why awareness is so important – because if I had known earlier, maybe I would have understood sooner.”

Cervical cancer is caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV) and is the second most deadly cancer among women of reproductive age in Eastern Europe and Central Asia. It is almost completely preventable and treatable when detected early.  However, low- and middle-income countries continue to face high rates of cervical cancer and deaths. This reflects major inequities driven by socioeconomic factors and a widespread lack of access to HPV vaccinations, cervical screenings and treatment services.

Regular Pap tests can identify changes before they become cancer, and HPV vaccinations further reduce the risk. Women aged 21 to 65 are encouraged to undergo regular screening as part of their routine healthcare.

The Kosovo screening programme

To fight cervical cancer and save lives, UNFPA partnered with the Ministry of Health, the Kosovo Institute of Public Health, the Kosovo Board on Cancer Control and Action for Mothers and Children to establish a cervical cancer screening programme at the primary healthcare level in six municipalities.

The programme provides Pap tests, trains health professionals, and strengthens prevention and early detection services across the municipalities. It also supported the development of clinical guidelines, standard operating procedures, referral pathways, capacity building of pathologists in cytology, and awareness campaigns to ensure more women understand the importance of prevention and participate in cervical cancer screenings.

Since 2016, more than 20,000 women have received Pap testing through this initiative. Women with abnormal results have been referred for further examination and treatment when needed, improving early detection and survival outcomes.

The Ministry of Health has approved an action plan on cervical cancer screening, which provides the framework for expanding the programme across Kosovo. The rollout is scheduled to begin later in 2026.

Kosovo has also introduced the HPV vaccine into its routine immunization programme, and implementation is ongoing as part of the Ministry of Health's broader efforts to strengthen cervical cancer prevention.

Mevlyde was one of the women who survived cervical cancer because the screening programme caught it in time. She encourages all women to protect themselves and take action, too: 

“Prioritize your health! Go and get checked. It can save your life.”

Note: the article originally published on UNFPA website in English version: UNFPA Kosovo | One test that changed everything: A story of surviving cervical cancer in Kosovo