Amidst the hustle and bustle of daily news, it’s crucial to take a moment to focus on health matters that affect millions of people worldwide. Cervical cancer, a potentially life-threatening disease, is a significant concern for women, with around 3,000 new cases diagnosed in the UK each year. However, there is a renewed plea for better uptake of free NHS screening invitations, as only around one in three women take up their screening invite, despite the fact that 75% of cervical cancers can be prevented by cervical screening.

According to figures, there has been a higher uptake regionally during 2020-2022 compared to the national average. North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust is utilizing Cervical Cancer Prevention Week (January 22-28) to urge all invited individuals to attend screening appointments.

While many women automatically receive a screening appointment from the age of 24 and a half years to attend their GP surgery, some are referred to Peterborough City Hospital. Michelle Hydes, a Trust Colposcopy/Gynae Oncology Clinical Nurse Specialist, runs a monthly smear clinic, where up to 13 patients are seen in a day. Michelle emphasized the importance of early detection and treatment, stating, ‘The aim is to treat any pre-cancerous cells before they develop further.’ She also highlighted the various procedures and treatments that patients may undergo based on their screening results.

The NHS cervical screening programme invites women aged between 24.5 and 64 for cervical screening, aiming to detect changes early that could develop into cervical cancer if left untreated. However, despite its potential to save lives, cervical screening remains somewhat of a taboo subject. Michelle urged all women who receive a screening invitation to take up the offer, emphasizing that patients have the right to request a female health professional to carry out the test and that measures can be taken to make patients feel more comfortable.