Emma Baugh / BBCA woman who survived cervical cancer has highlighted the importance of smear tests after saying it saved her life.
Stacey Roberts, 37, from Peterborough, has been in remission for three years after being diagnosed with the disease aged 34, and said she feels “proud” of her journey.
NHS England said around one in three women respond to its invitation to have a cervical screening, even though 75% of cervical cancers can be prevented by the test.
Ms Roberts said: “Screenings save lives. They saved mine. It’s uncomfortable, but think about the bigger picture.”
Emma Baugh / BBCThe North West Anglia Foundation Trust has renewed its call for women to attend their smear smear appointment during Cervical Cancer Prevention Week, which runs from January 20-26.
Testing for the presence of human papillomavirus (HPV), which is the virus that causes cervical cancer – and is offered by the NHS to all women and people with a cervix aged 25 to 64.
The test involves taking a sample of cells from the cervix. If abnormal cells are found, they may be removed or monitored to prevent the development of cancer.
However, according to the latest data from NHS England, more than five million eligible women are not up to date with their routine screening, with the lowest screening rate recorded among women aged 25 to 29 (58%). .
In 2022-23, 74% of women aged 50 and over who were invited to attend did so, NHS England said.
“I became numb”
When Ms Roberts, a mother of two, was diagnosed with cervical cancer, she recalled having no symptoms and being “healthy and active”.
She said: “In the hospital, when she said it was cancer. I went numb.
“I kept thinking about my children… the emotions I went through… three years of remission, I still look back and realize… it was hard,” she said. -she declared.
“If I can help just one person and encourage them to get tested, I know I’ve done well.
“I share my stories sometimes, even at school. But you hear things like it’s ’embarrassing, uncomfortable’… but the pain is worth it, I would say.
“I’m glad I took the test. What if I failed it? The idea of my kids growing up without their mother…you have to think about the bigger picture.”
Emma Baugh/BBCSome women told the BBC they faced “cultural barriers” and “health issues” which prevented them from having a smear test.
A disabled woman, who wished to remain anonymous, said she found the “facilities inaccessible” and the table used for the screening was “too high to access”.
Another Peterborough woman with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), a hormonal condition that causes irregular bleeding, said her condition was affecting her ability to have a smear test in a timely manner.
Dr Shabina Asad Qayyum, GP and councilor and cabinet member for health and adult social care at Peterborough City Council, said the city had a diverse population and there was “no data reliable demonstrating low participation only within certain cultures.” “.
She added: “There is some perception that women of certain ethnicities who are not sexually active might not be tested because it is considered an invasive procedure, and sexual health is a sensitive topic cultural. »
“But this requires a more educational vision on how to educate women about life-saving screening.
“Arrangements are always made for someone who shares their specific needs.
“Talk to us openly and be reassured we will take their concerns into account and try to make their experience comfortable.”
NWAFTAccording to Cancer Research UK, cervical screenings save at least 2,000 lives every year in the UK.
A spokesperson for NHS Cambridgeshire and Peterborough said: “The North Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Care Partnership, part of the Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Integrated Care System, has received funding from the East of England Cancer Alliance to run outreach clinics and educational sessions encouraging those who have never had one. a cervical screening test or have not had one for a long time.
“A series of fact-based videos on cervical cancer screening in multiple languages have been recorded to raise awareness of the importance of cervical cancer screening, engage diverse communities and overcome language and cultural barriers at the local level. »
