CANCER survivor Caroline France lived under a shadow of fear for five months after tests showed that the disease could have returned.

The Westhoughton mum-of-two feared possible cervical cancer could have spread or grown because of the delay.

She believes she should have been fast-tracked because of her medical history.

Yet, the Royal Bolton Hospital insists that it already operates a high priority list.

Mrs France, of Marlbrook Drive, Westhoughton, said: "I nearly went demented with worry.

"What makes this worse is that I had cancer in 1987 and it was very frightening.

"I had to have laser treatment and have been having smear tests done ever since.

"It has always been my biggest fear that it would return."

Results from her annual check up proved that cells had become abnormal in February this year.

Mrs France said she was told to wait until May for a re-test -- and has been waiting for the last eight weeks for the results of the second test to come through.

She says that she had been ringing her GP for the results daily with no joy.

Mrs France said: "I was frightened. All I could think of is that it had five months to grow. I shouldn't have had to wait this long to find out if I have cancer.

"I feel very strongly about it. There should be a better system to deal with high priority cases.

"But I should be dealt with as an emergency. I am so frustrated."

A spokesman for the hospital said that a system was in place to hurry up tests results for those considered high priority.

But the hospital refused to discuss Mrs France's details because of confidentiality rules.

The test results were waiting for Mrs France when she later rang up her GP.

She said: "It is a coincidence that they have arrived following a phone call to the hospital from the Bolton Evening News.

"It's disgusting that they made me wait so long. Luckily, the results were negative. But why wait so long before they told me?" CANCER survivor Caroline France lived under a shadow of fear for five months after tests showed that the disease could have returned.

The Westhoughton mum-of-two feared possible cervical cancer could have spread or grown because of the delay.

She believes she should have been fast-tracked because of her medical history.

Yet, the Royal Bolton Hospital insists that it already operates a high priority list.

Mrs France, of Marlbrook Drive, Westhoughton, said: "I nearly went demented with worry.

"What makes this worse is that I had cancer in 1987 and it was very frightening.

"I had to have laser treatment and have been having smear tests done ever since.

"It has always been my biggest fear that it would return."

Results from her annual check up proved that cells had become abnormal in February this year.

Mrs France said she was told to wait until May for a re-test -- and has been waiting for the last eight weeks for the results of the second test to come through.

She says that she had been ringing her GP for the results daily with no joy.

Mrs France said: "I was frightened. All I could think of is that it had five months to grow. I shouldn't have had to wait this long to find out if I have cancer.

"I feel very strongly about it. There should be a better system to deal with high priority cases.

"But I should be dealt with as an emergency. I am so frustrated."

A spokesman for the hospital said that a system was in place to hurry up tests results for those considered high priority.

But the hospital refused to discuss Mrs France's details because of "confidentiality rules".

The test results were waiting for Mrs France when she later rang up her GP.

She said: "It is a coincidence that they have arrived following a phone call to the hospital from the Bolton Evening News.

"It is disgusting that they made me wait so long. Luckily, the results were negative. But why wait so long before they told me?"