Smear tests are back in the limelight again and not for a good reason. Those attending their 3 yearly test is decreasing and are at their lowest for 20 years, with 1 in 4 women ignoring their letters inviting them to go for this life-saving check– this drops to 1 in 3 for those aged 25-29.
After Jade Goody very publicly discussed and lost her battle with cervical cancer in 2008, her legacy had a positive effect and the UK saw 400,000 women attend their screening. So what has happened since then to explain this drop? Perhaps the fact that the new generation of girls who are now turning 25 may not remember or even know about Jade’s story? Have we stopped discussing it enough? Are we even more shy about these type of procedures than ever before? Or are women just far too busy to take some time to focus on themselves? I’m not sure what the answer is but what I do know is that far too many women are needlessly risking their lives.
Continue reading “#SmearForSmear – Why Are Women Risking Their Lives?”