Fifth of women still failing to have life-saving smear tests

More than a fifth of women are putting their health at risk by not having a simple test which could save their life.

Cervical cancer is the country’s biggest killer of women aged under 35, yet one Spalding GP surgery says only 79 per cent of eligible patients regularly have a smear test.

Cervical cancer is one of the few cancers that can be prevented by screening.

Munro Medical Centre is taking part in a national Pink Pants Campaign in an effort to get the message across.

Lead nurse Sally Johnson said: “At Munro Medical Centre we are fortunate to have a 79 per cent attendance rate for cervical cancer screening.

“However, this still means that we have 21 per cent of eligible ladies are not taking up this important screening opportunity.

“We understand that some women may find the smear test slightly uncomfortable and may not want to get it done, but it is important that they do.

“There is nothing to be frightened of.

“Getting a positive test does not mean you have cancer.

“The message of the Pink Pants campaign is… as screening rates decrease in younger women, the incidents of cervical cancer rise…”

Additional appointments have been made at the surgery during the Pink Pants Campaign, with a variety of appointment times available to make it more easily accessible to all women.

Smear tests are available to the following groups:

•  women aged 24.5 to 50 years who have not had a smear test in the last three years
•  women aged 50 to 60 years who have not had a smear test in the past five years.

The Pink Pants campaign, with its attention grabbing Love Your Lady Parts tagline, is led by the Early Presentation of Cancer Programme – a community-led initiative aimed at spreading information on signs and symptoms of cancer and urging people to seek treatment earlier.

It urges people to know what’s normal for them, keep an eye out for any changes and report any changes to a GP.