Are you female and aged between 25 and 64? If so, do you attend your 5 minute cervical screening test?
You may be surprised to hear that 9 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer each day in the UK – however this disease could be largely preventable by attending a cervical screening appointment.
Regular Cervical Screening:
- Saves 5,000 lives a year in the UK
- Prevents 8 out of 10 cancers developing
- Takes less than 5 minutes
Over the past 3 years the average number of women attending cervical screening appointments is 77% in the Western Isles with our national target being 80%. In 2018, we will continue to encourage all women to attend for regular screening, and particularly for women aged 25-30 to establish the habit of cervical screening.
Dr Maggie Watts, NHS Western Isles Director of Public Health, says ‘Cervical screening is a quick procedure which is carried out by an experienced nurse or doctor in privacy. Most women report no or only minor discomfort but we do know that some women can feel anxious about attending. If you explain to your nurse or doctor how you are feeling, they will be happy to talk you through any concerns and put you at ease.’
You can reduce your risk of developing cervical cancer by booking your cervical screening appointment with your GP Practice or the family planning clinic when you receive your letter – however – if you have already received your letter and not attended – CALL TODAY TO BOOK IT, it’s not too late!
For more information on cervical screening: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/cervical-screening/
Detect Cancer Early