Cancer Survivor Encourages HPV Vaccine
Washington mum who survived cervical cancer wants every girl in the North East to be protected from getting it.
A Washington mum who survived cervical cancer wants every girl in the North East to be protected from getting it.
It’s as figures show almost 10% of 12-13 year olds in Northumberland and Tyne and Wear aren’t getting the full HPV vaccine – given to reduce the chance of developing cervical cancer.
That’s more than 600 girls in year eight who didn’t take all three doses last year.
37-year-old Jane McClelland was diagnosed four years ago - in the same year her 12-year-old daughter was offered the jab.
She told Metro Radio that if she hadn’t been affected by the disease herself, she wouldn’t know anything about it apart from a simple invite given by the school.
Jane, who now works with charity Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust here in the North East, claims some parents could be put off because they don’t know enough about the vaccination.
She said:
“There should be enough out there for them to know why to get it done without having a personal experience. There should be enough resources for families to make that decision and be confident that they’re doing the right thing. Any doubts that you have are certainly are outweighed by the experience it could have on your family if you don’t have the vaccine.”
“I would have taken the opportunity and had it for myself and obviously this was the reason that I had my own daughter vaccinated because I strongly believe that it could make a difference to her future.”
For more information on cervical cancer and the vaccination get in touch with Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust.