Embarrassment is one of the main reasons more than a quarter of 25 to 29-year-olds in Swale are not having cervical smear tests.

The East Kent NHS public health team says that nearly 2,000 young women are putting themselves at increased risk of developing cervical cancer by not turning up for their routine screening appointments.

According to latest figures, 28 per cent of women aged 25 to 29 fail to attend appointments.

Two campaigns have been launched to coincide with European Cervical Cancer Prevention Week and an information stand will be at Tesco, Bridge Road, Sheerness, this Wednesday and Thursday (Jan 26 and 27).

The first campaign, aimed at women aged 25 to 34, is called 'Relax Girls – we’ve seen it all before’. Running parallel is the 'She may have flown the nest but you can still keep her safe’ campaign targeting older women who have daughters or nieces aged 25 to 34.

Information will be available at children’s centres, GP surgeries, pharmacies, health centres and from health visitors.

Paula McLachlan, screening programmes manager for Kent and Medway, said: “We’re using the 'relax’ slogan as we’ve found that one of the main reasons why younger women don’t attend is embarrassment.

“Some women feel uncomfortable with the idea of having a smear test – however, they need to be reassured that the screening is done by experienced professionals who carry out this procedure every day.

“If a woman attends her first appointment at age 25 she is more likely to attend future screening appointments. Older women are generally more used to being screened, so we’re approaching mums, grandmothers and aunties too with a message that even if your daughter is all grown up you can still keep her safe, by reminding her about the importance of screening.

“Regular cervical screening, available free on the NHS, is one of the best ways to stop cervical cancer in its tracks.”

Cervical cancer - the facts

• Cervical screening is not a test for diagnosing cervical cancer. It is a screening test to check the health of the cervix (the lower part of the womb, often called the neck of the womb) and detect any changes to the cervix early so that treatment can be offered.
• Cervical screening can prevent around 75 per cent of cancer cases in women who attend regularly.
• Cancer Research UK estimates that up to 4,500 lives will be saved each year in England by cervical screening.
• About 900 women die of cervical cancer in England each year – nearly three women a day. Many of those who develop cervical cancer have not been screened regularly and not going for cervical screening is one of the biggest risk factors for developing cervical cancer.
• Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer in women under 35.
• For more information about cervical cancer or screening, visit www.jostrust.org.uk or www.cancerscreening.nhs.uk or call Jo’s Trust Cervical Cancer Helpline 0808 8028000.

(source: East Kent NHS)