Health bosses urge people across North Yorkshire to attend cervical screening
It's as stats show around third of people ignore the invite
A York GP 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.
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."
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.
You can find more details here on the Humber and North Yorkshire Cancer Alliance website.