Women urged to take smear tests

Thursday 3rd June 2010
Hundreds of women in the Great Yarmouth area could be risking their lives by forgetting or opting out of smear tests.

Health chiefs have warned that they are taking a chance by avoiding the short screening test for cervical cancer.

Dr Alistair Lipp, director of public health at NHS Great Yarmouth and Waveney, said they wanted to encourage anyone who was not up to date with smear tests to take action. Screening could detect any early signs of abnormal cells that might develop into cancer.

Cervical cancer affects more than 2,000 people a year in the UK and causes around 400 deaths.

Health chiefs are pushing the message as part of Cervical Screening Awareness Week, which starts on Sunday.

Dr Lipp said that some women found the test ‘scary’, a bit embarrassing and even slightly painful, but it could save their life.

Contact your GP for a smear test, or for teenage girls who may have missed their HPV vaccine, call 01502 527591.

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