Cervical smears - Hull mum says: "Just get it done"
Health services are campaigning as part of Cervical Cancer Awareness Month.
A Hull mum has joined the push to get more women and people with a cervix to have their smear tests, as a third of younger people in the city are missing their vital appointments.
Cervical Cancer Awareness Month is aiming to get people to attend their cervical screening appointment (commonly known as a smear test), know the signs of cervical cancer and help raise awareness of symptoms.
Meg Long from Hull said: "I was really nervous, I thought 'this is going to be uncomfortable, this is embarrassing' but I'm a mum of two children and not looking after me is not looking after them.
"It wasn't anywhere near as uncomfortable as I thought it was going to be, the nurse was absolutely lovely, they're used to people being nervous and worried - I was making a bit of a fuss over nothing really."
Just 67% of eligible people in Hull aged 25-49 are up to date with their smear tests, compared to a national target of 80%. In the East Riding of Yorkshire, GP practices screened 78% of eligible 50-64 year olds between April and June 2023, and screened 76% of those aged 25-49 (the best rate in the country).
Symptoms of cervical cancer include:
- Unusual vaginal bleeding - such as bleeding during or after sex, between periods or after menopause, or having heavier periods than usual
- Changes to vaginal discharge
- Pain during sex
- Pain in your lower back, between your hip bones, or in your lower stomach.
Dr Dan Cottingham is a York GP and part of the Humber and North Yorkshire Cancer Alliance - he said: "It's really important we try to break down taboos so people talk to each other about these things, and I'd encourage people to talk to their GP or nurse or other allied health professional if they have concerns."
Smear tests typically take no more than a couple of minutes, with appointments usually lasting less than 10 minutes. The test aims to prevent cancer by detecting conditions such as HPV (human papillomavirus) which may lead to cervical cancer years before cancer develops.
Dr Cottingham said: "Talk to friends who have had the test as well so they know what they're going to experience, but the test is generally non-painful, very straightforward and very quick."
Meg said her message is simple: "It's best just to go and get it done with, it takes 1-2 minutes and the nurses are lovely - just go and get it done and you'll feel so much better afterwards."
You can find more details here on the Humber and North Yorkshire Cancer Alliance website.