Tameside Radio - Cervical screening awareness
Many thanks to Michelle Blodwell & Gemma Quinton for their talk today on Tameside Radio`s health watch hour.
Michelle is Tameside hospital`s Gynae-oncology specialist nurse, Gemma is a patient representative who gave a great insight into the need to attend cervical screenings Gemma has an Instagram page public_cervix_announcement.
Raising awareness of Cervical screening, the need to attend appointments and the benefits of attending your cervical screening appointment. Discussing the signs and symptoms of gynaecological cancers and not to wait for an appointment when you know something is not right for you, Contact your GP straight away.
Cervical screening, or the “smear test”, is a routine health check that identifies potentially harmful cells and changes on the cervix. Cervical screening is not a test for cancer but catching any changes early can reduce your risk of developing cervical cancer.
Cervical cancer kills two women every day. Regular screenings can help reduce that number, which is why it’s so important you attend your screening when invited.
Cervical screenings, better known as smear tests, are free on the NHS for all women aged between 25 and 64. They can detect the early signs of cervical cancer before the "abnormal cells" become cancerous.
But one in four women are not attending their tests, despite one in nine saying they would take a test that could help prevent cancer.
If you’re due to have a cervical screening, you’ll receive an invite letter in the post. Don’t ignore it, book your cervical screening today.
If you missed your previous appointment or are unsure if you are due a screening, contact your GP they will book you an appointment if you’re due.
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