Don't ignore your screening test
Women are being urged to attend test which could save their lives.
This weeks is Cervical Screen Awareness Week and more and more women are ignoring their appointments for a smear test.
Jo's Cervical Cancer Trust warns that cervical cancer can be prevented.
After Jade Goody's death in 2009, cervical screening rates rose for the first time in almost a decade. But this 'effect' has not been maintained and now one in five don't attend their screening appointment.
Every three hours a woman in the UK is diagnosed with the disease and it claims three lives each day - we need to urge women to help protect themselves.
Robert Music, Director of Jo's Cervical Cancer Trust, the only UK charity dedicated to womena dn those close to the affected by cervical abnormalities says: "We saw a surge in women going for screening after Jade Goody died. Sadly that hasn't been sustained. I am concerned that there is a worrying downward trend with thousands of women ignoring their screening invitation."
A survery conducted by YouGov revealed that a lack of flexibility is one of the main factors why women don't attend a screening.
14 million women in the UK are in part or full-time employment and a third of these women have admitted to delaying or missing an appointment because of clashing schedules.
Robert Music continues: "GP surgeries undeniably have a key role to play in boosting screening uptake. Womens' responses make it clear that evening and weekend appointments would make a significant difference to what action they would take when receiving their invitation.
"Giving a woman just a couple of hours off work every three years or five yeards or simply offering her an appointment outside normal surgery hours could mean the difference between life and death."
We need to make a change, don't let other things become an excuse not to attend a screening. Book your appointment today.
Tagged in Health cervical cancer