A local project, “Very Important Invitation”, is visiting Bury St Edmunds town centre to educate people about cervical health and encourage proactive steps to prevent cervical cancer. Two women, Cara Lawrence and nurse Lilith Holdsworth, are speaking with businesses and members of the public to raise awareness about cervical screening.
Cervical cancer remains a preventable form of cancer, but one in three individuals who receive an invitation for cervical screening fail to attend their appointment. The main reason is age, particularly among younger people. However, a study suggests that the “Jade Goody effect” may be losing its impact, as many young people are not aware of the connection between cervical screening and cancer.
Lilith emphasized the importance of attending cervical screening appointments, even if you have received the HPV vaccine. She stated that while the vaccine is effective in preventing certain strains of HPV, it must be used alongside regular screenings to eradicate the virus altogether.
Cervical screening looks for high-risk strains of HPV associated with cervical cancer. While the vaccine prevents against a specific strain, there are hundreds of different strains, and some people may still develop cancer. Misconceptions about HPV being an STI have led to a lack of understanding about this critical health issue.
The “Very Important Invitation” team is handing out leaflets and posters throughout Cervical Cancer Prevention Week and is offering support for individuals with disabilities or other needs during screenings. Evening and weekend appointments are available at clinics across Suffolk, and those can be booked online through the Suffolk GP Federation website.
As part of January’s Cervical Screening Awareness Month, local residents can take part in a challenge to raise awareness about cervical screening by running every Parkrun in Suffolk.
Source: https://www.suffolknews.co.uk/bury-st-edmunds/news/cervical-screening-does-save-lives-project-comes-to-town-9400924