Last week marked Cervical Cancer Prevention Week, an opportunity to raise awareness on the importance of regular health checks of the cervix to help prevent cancer.

Every year there’s around 3,200 new cervical cancer cases in the UK, resulting in nearly 9 new cases every day (data from 2016 to 2018 from Cancer Research UK).

To help raise awareness, Pall Mall invited former Coronation Street star, Brooke Vincent, and Manchester-based influencer, Millie Lawrence, to our Manchester clinic to undergo a private smear test.

Speaking about her smear test, Brooke said: “It was so quick and easy. I didn’t feel uncomfortable, the nurse was lovely!

“I even got the opportunity to ask other questions that were playing on my mind too.”

Cervical smear tests are a quick and simple way to detect early abnormalities in the cells in a woman’s cervix. By detecting changes in cells early, a cervical smear can be the first step in diagnosing and treating cervical cancer.

Early detection and treatment may prevent 75% of cancers developing.

Symptoms of cervical cancer include:

• vaginal bleeding that’s unusual for you – including bleeding during or after sex, between your periods or after the menopause, or having heavier periods than usual
• changes to your vaginal discharge
• pain during sex
• pain in your lower back, between your hip bones (pelvis), or in your lower tummy

Cervical screening is no longer available on the NHS for women between the ages of 18 and 25, but if you fall into this age bracket or any age above – it is still important to get tested regularly.

Pall Mall can perform smear testing for women from the age of 18 and above. We offer a choice of having a smear test with a female Nurse, male or female GP, or a Consultant Gynaecologist.

You can find out more about smear tests on our website.