Cervical Screening Awareness Week
Cervical Screening Awareness Week: 11 – 17 June 2018
Cervical cancer is the most common cancer in women under 35 with 3,000 women a year diagnosed with the condition. But with regular screening, it can be prevented. Cervical screening (a smear test) aims to find abnormal cells which if left untreated, may develop into cancer, however it is NOT a test for cancer.
The NHS invites women from the age of 25-49 to attend for cervical screening every three years and women between the ages of 50-64, every five years. If you receive a recall letter after your test, don’t ignore it, as it is estimated that 5000 lives a year are saved in the UK through cervical screening.
NHS Northumberland Clinical Commissioning Group’s Community Cancer Awareness Co-ordinator will be out and about this week to promote Cervical Screening Awareness Week. Look out for displays and information leaflets.
If you would like further advice on cervical screening, contact the practice nurse at your GP surgery or you can telephone Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust helpline, on 0808 802 8000, visit their website or visit www.nhs.uk.
#SmearTestsSaveLives
