When You Put Off That Cervical Screening Appointment

Around 6 months ago I received my cervical screening letter and I am not going to lie … I did nothing.

In fact I made up several excuses and forgot about the whole thing until a week ago and another letter dropped on my doormat. 

I had a friend that passed away from cervical cancer a few years back and I know how devastating this soul destroying, life eating disease can be. It left 2 young girls orphaned. It is something that I have cried about numerous times over the last few years. For me becoming a parent made me realise my own mortality even more so than ever before. I worry about not being around for them while they grow up. I worry about every lump bump or headache, and have even embarked on a weight loss mission to be the fittest I can be. But yet I still dread that screening test.

It seems I am not alone either as recent news articles like the one in the Mirror claim ‘The Jade Goody Effect Has Long Gone‘ and that the UK’s lowest number of screenings have been carried out this year. 

However I can understand why. My GP surgery has certain limited slots each month that appointments are available and it can take a couple of months to even get an appointment. 

What I can’t help but find frustrating is that in this day and age finding somewhere to have a test done locally to me in less than a month time frame. Family planning clinics also seem to be on the decrease too and since this is also where screening tests can be carried out it has become even more frustrating and feels like you are begging for an appointment when you have to phone several times to get an appointment within 5-6 weeks so for me it has been easier to just put it off.

Until this week. 

Thats right I have finally booked in a test and managed to get a cancellation appointment for the 29th January so I only have to wait 3 weeks for my next test. 

I know its taken me longer than it should have to finally book in this test but with over 800 women each year dying from this cancer it’s certainly going to be worth trying to keep up with the 3 year screening test, I am just hoping in the next 3 years there are more accessible clinics so there really are no excuses and that this result is negative too now I have put it off.

For more information on cervical screening you can find it on the NHS website HERE.