Women are encouraged to attend smear test appointments every three years
Catherine McCurry looks at the importance of smear tests…
AS much as women dread or try their best to avoid it, cervical smear tests are life saving procedures which are over in a matter of minutes.
As September is Gynaecological Cancer Awareness Month, it’s a good opportunity to explore why women should ensure they attend their smear appointments.
Many women fear these tests because they believe it’s a test for cancer, however, it is simply to check the health of the cells in the cervix.
Regular screening reduces the chance of cancer of the cervix developing and women are often called for tests every three years time.
A cervical screening test is a method of detecting abnormal cells on the cervix and detecting and removing any abnormal cervical cells found can prevent cervical cancer.
While most women’s test results show that everything is normal, around 1 in 20 women will show some abnormal changes in the cells of the cervix.
However, most of these changes will not lead to cervical cancer and the cells may go back to normal on their own but, in some cases, the abnormal cells need to be removed so that they cannot become cancerous.
Attending you scheduled smear appointments regularly means that any abnormal changes in the cells of the cervix can be identified at an early stage and, if necessary, treated to stop cancer developing.
About 3,000 cases of cervical cancer are diagnosed each year in the UK, which amounts to 2% of all cancers diagnosed in women.
It’s possible for women of all ages to develop cervical cancer, although the condition mainly affects sexually active women between the ages of 30 and 45. The condition is very rare in women under 25.
All women aged between 25 and 64 are invited for cervical screening. Women aged between 25 and 49 are invited for testing every three years, and women aged between 50 and 64 are invited every five years.
Statistics show that one in four women in the UK do not attend their smear tests when invited which is a shocking amount when you consider that early detection and treatment can prevent up to 75 per cent of cervical cancers.
There has been controversy surrounding the legal age of a smear test – many people have called on the NHS to lower the age at which women can have routine smear tests.
Today, women aged over 25 are offered a smear test.
The Northern Ireland Screening Service will send you a reminder when your next smear test is due, so don’t dodge the next one.
Recently, a 38-year-old mother of two revealed she had been diagnosed with cervical cancer after ignoring smear tests which she blamed on being too busy between home and working life.
She is currently receiving treatment for stage two cervical cancer and now says that ignoring her smear tests and forgetting to rebook a missed appointment is the biggest regret of her life.
She has two young sons and won’t know until Christmas whether the treatment has worked.
If you are aged between 25 and 49 and haven’t been for a smear test in the last three years – book your life-saving appointment and for those aged over 50 get one every five years.
Sources: NHS.uk
