One in three women in the UK miss their cervical smear test due to embarassment. Think about that statistic for a moment. Thats around 1.4 million women missing out in an important screening test that can help prevent cervical cancer. The smear test is available to all women between the age of 25 and 64, its a simple procedure that can save your life and yet people are putting it off due to embarassment.
Women are funny creatures, we are happy to let our trusted beautician see our lady parts give us a good tidy up, possibly sit and have lunch and drinks with that same person who has just played about with hot wax strips for 30 minutes, yet we are embarrased to let a trained proffessional carry out a cervical smear that takes under 10 minutes and has potential so save our lives.
You see more than 3200 people are diagnosed with cervical cancer each year and more than 900 of these will die. If that doesnt make you want to have your screening done I dont know what will.
Jade Goody was a reality tv personality, she was born in 1981. In 2008 whilst appearing on a tv show she learned she had cervical cancer and left early to start treatment. Early in 2009 at the age of 27, she was to learn her cancer was terminal and she had months to live. The whole of Britain was in shock. How can someone so young be dying with cervical cancer? Cervical cancer, if detected early is very treatable usually by having surgery. Early stage cervical cancer can be treated by having radiation and more advance stages with a combination of chemotherapy and radiation. What made Jade Goody's situation so much more heartbreaking was the fact she had two young sons. She died weeks later in March 2009.
In the months after Jade's death Cancer Research UK had stated that hundreds of thousands of people had been contacting them for information on the disease and there were reports of a 12% increase in people attending cervical screening tests. Fast forward to 2019 and the Jade Goody effect has worn off. Smear tests are at an all time low with less that 80% of females taking up screening. That means 1 in 3 women under the age of 35 are not having regular smear tests.
Below is some information on the simple procedure that can save your life. If you need any further information click on any of the links below.
https://www.jostrust.org.uk/about-cervical-cancer
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/cervical-screening/how-to-book/
https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-us
Cervical Smear Test Facts
Smear test does not test for cancer. The smear test is a test that checks for abnormal cells in your cervix. If detected these can be treated or monitored to reduce the risk of cancer.
Cervical cancer is not thought to be heriditary. 99.7% of cervical cancers are caused by infections with the HPV (Human Papillomavirus) While this high-risk virus is common, cervical cancer is rare.
HPV can be passed without intercourse. In fact any sort of sexual contact in the genetal area can cause HPV. Anyone with a cervix is at risk of contracting HPV and most people will come into contact with the virus at some point in their lives without even knowing. The HPV vaccine does not protect against all types of HPV so you are still at risk of cervical cancer if you have had the vaccine.
Cervical screening saves more than 5000 lives per year. 9 out of 10 screening tests come back normal. It is common to feel anxious about your results however you should normally hear back within 2 weeks.
The nurses are experts. They have carried out many procedures before yours. They dont care what colour of pants you are wearing, whether you have had a trim down there or even if you've shaved your legs. You can request a female carry out the procedure and even to have a partner in with you if it makes you feel more at ease. Just remember to breath, relax and talk to your nurse. You shouldnt feel any pain only minor discomfort.