Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust started Cervical Cancer Prevention Week to raise smear test awareness about the need for and benefits of cervical screening. The trust was founded in memory of Jo Maxwell, whose wish was that people affected by cervical cancer ‘would have the opportunity to communicate with others facing similar challenges.
At Simply Wigs, we think this is an admirable goal, and we have endeavoured to create a welcoming space full of stories and support on our blog. You can find these stories at We, That Wear Wigs.
In 2022, Cervical Cancer Prevention Week falls from the 17th to the 23rd of January, and this year’s campaign will focus on sharing stories and information.
Why Is Smear Test Awareness Important?
Currently, the NHS invites all people with cervixes to smear tests, or cervical screenings, from 25 until they are 64. They are preventative procedures used to look for any abnormalities in cervical cells.
Smear tests and colposcopies can be uncomfortable to have, but they shouldn’t be uncomfortable to talk about. While smear tests are the best way to prevent cervical cancer, every year there are many eligible people that do not take up the NHS’s invitation for screening.
Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust hopes that raising smear test awareness and information about what happens at a screening will help reduce fear of the unknown and encourage people to get tested! If you have been invited to a cervical cancer screening in 2022, it’s important that you go – it’s a ten-minute procedure that could catch cervical cancer early.
Participating in Cervical Cancer Prevention Week
This year, Cervical Cancer Prevention Week aims to focus on sharing people’s experiences with smear tests and other information people should know to feel confident before they go.
The best way to participate this year is to share your story or any tips you might have learned to make the procedure as comfortable as possible. For example, you might take painkillers before the smear test to reduce any pain afterwards, or wear a cosy pair of socks to keep your feet warm!
Alternatively, you might like to share your experience of how a smear test or colposcopy appointment runs, from how to book one to what happens during the appointment and how to look after yourself afterwards.
If you aren’t comfortable sharing your personal experiences, that’s okay – there are plenty of online resources available that you can reference or link to. The important thing is getting the word out and raising smear test awareness!
#SmearForSmear
In past years, Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust has run the #SmearForSmear campaign, encouraging people to smear lipstick or makeup across their faces to raise awareness about smear tests. While this made an important statement, the trust wants to focus more on information and experiences this year. Of course, you can still post your smeared selfies, but the charity requests that, where possible, those taking part share information too.
Real Stories
Actress Georgia Tennant shared her experience in 2018. Having been notified of ‘borderline changes’ in her smear test, she was referred for a colposcopy. In a blog post, she shared her feelings about the whole process, including having a section of her cervix removed and finding out later that she had just survived cervical cancer.
Finally, she adds, ‘I needed to tell this story to you not because I like the idea of talking publicly about something so private or everyone knowing I’ll be wearing a nappy-sized sanitary towel for the next four weeks but because I want that one person who has been putting off making that appointment, to make it.’
This year’s Cervical Cancer Prevention Week campaign is a fantastic chance for people all over the country to participate by sharing their stories. Who knows – your story could encourage someone to book the smear test that could save their life.
For more tips and a host of free resources, check out the official campaign page on the Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust website. To share your story with us, please send it in today – if your article is published on our website, you’ll receive a 40% discount off your next Simply Wigs purchase! For more information, please contact our friendly team.
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