The Royal Oldham Hospital supporting Cervical Cancer Prevention Week

Cervical Cancer Prevention Week (22 – 29 January 2018)

Specialist nurses at The Royal Oldham Hospital are supporting Cervical Cancer Prevention Week (22 – 29 January 2018) in an effort to raise awareness of the disease and to promote the importance of cervical screening among staff, patients and visitors.

Every year in the UK about 3,000 women will be diagnosed with cervical cancer and two women every day lose their life to the disease. It is the most common cancer in women aged 35 and under, but 75% of cervical cancers can be prevented by cervical screening (smear tests).

Latest statistics show that attendance of cervical screening in England is the lowest for two decades, having fallen to 72%.

A cervical screening test is a method of detecting abnormal cells on the cervix as detecting and removing abnormal cervical cells can prevent cervical cancer.

All women over the age of 25, who are registered with a GP, are invited for cervical screening. For those aged between 25 and 49, this is every three years, and for those aged between 50 and 64, it is every five years.

An information stand will be available outside the Café Royal on Monday 22 and Friday 25 January. From Tuesday 23 January until Thursday 24 January, it will be located opposite the glass corridor at the main entrance to the hospital. Staff will be handing out information leaflets on cervical cancer, cervical screening and the HPV vaccine. Publicity material will be supplied by Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust (Jo’s Trust).

Amanda Storey, gynaecology Macmillan nurse at The Royal Oldham Hospital, said: “The theme for the Cervical Cancer Prevention Week 2018 is ‘Reduce your risk’. As cervical cancer can be prevented we need to ensure that every woman knows how they can reduce their risk of the disease and the steps they can take to look after their health. This means encouraging women to attend for their smear tests, and seeking medical advice if they are experiencing any symptoms of cervical cancer.”

Signs and symptoms of cervical cancer include:

• Abnormal bleeding during sexual intercourse, or between periods.
• Post menopausal bleeding (vaginal bleeding that happens after the menopause).
• Unusual or unpleasant discharge.
• Discomfort or pain during sex
• Lower back pain.