Don’t miss out on key health test
CERVICAL Cancer Screening awareness week is here: June 15-21 this year.
There are approximately 3,200 new cases of cervical cancer in the UK each year.
This is about eight new cases each day in the UK.
The best way to protect yourself from cervical cancer is to attend regular screening – the NHS Cervical cancer screening programme invites women aged 25-64.
Women aged 25-49 receive invitations every three years and women aged 50-64 are invited for screening every 5 years.
In 2018/19, only 73 per cent of women aged 25-49 in Southport and Formby attended for cervical screening after receiving their invitation letter.
Cervical screening is not a test for cancer but it can help to prevent it.
During the screening process, a sample of cells are taken from a woman’s cervix and this is analysed for a virus called human papillomavirus (HPV).
If HPV is not found, no further testing is required until the next time. If HPV is found, the samples are checked for changes in the cells of the cervix.
After a delay due to the pandemic, invitations and reminder letters for women to attend cervical screening have returned to normal.
We therefore expect a flurry of women attending for during Cervical Cancer Screening awareness week. To book a cervical smear, when you receive an invitation letter or if you’re smear is already overdue, please contact your GP to make an appointment.
If you prefer to have your smear at evenings or weekends, the seven-day GP service based in Birkdale, have put on extra nurse appointments to manage demand.
The first of these extra sessions will start on Sunday, June 21.
You can book an appointment with this service via your own GP.
For more information visit www.nhs.uk/conditions/cervical-cancer/
For more information on the seven-day GP service, visit www.southportandformbyhealth. co.uk/