Tayside women and girls are being reminded about the importance of protecting themselves from cervical cancer, the disease which led to the death of Jade Goody last year.
There was a rise in the number of young women coming forward for smear tests last year due to heightened public awareness around cervical cancer, and health professionals don’t want that to end.
Cervical Screening Awareness Week started on Monday and NHS Tayside is urging eligible women of all ages to continue to take up the offer of a smear every three years.
Women between 20 and 60, who are or have been sexually active, can get a smear done at their local doctor’s surgery, family planning or well woman clinic and it is important to have the tests regularly.
NHS Tayside is also encouraging school leavers to ensure they receive the third and final dose of the human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccine to protect them against the two main types of HPV the main cause of the cancer.
The HPV immunisation programme is now in its second year and has already been completed in schools throughout Scotland.
NHS Tayside is reminding school leavers between 16 and 18 who have not yet completed the programme to go to a participating pharmacy to receive a final vaccine dose.
Screening co-ordinator Dr Julie Cavanagh said, “There are over 300 cases of cervical cancer diagnosed every year in Scotland.
“By offering the HPV immunisation to girls, we hope to reduce the risk of them contracting this life-threatening disease later in life, and we would encourage all eligible girls to take up the offer of this vaccine.”
She added, “It is equally important that all women between 20 and 60 years old, who have ever been sexually active, should have a smear test every three years in order to check for cervical changes, which can then be treated before any cancer develops.”
Photo used Creative Commons licence courtesy of Flickr user julep67.