A most cancers survivor is urging girls to not ignore important smear take a look at invitations – after worrying figures revealed uptake has fallen throughout the area.
Michelle McGinty spoke out as new statistics confirmed solely 70 % of eligible girls between the ages of 25 and 49 in West Dunbartonshire got here ahead for cervical screening exams – under the nationwide common.
Three years in the past, this determine was 74 %, dropping to 72 % a yr later and falling additional to 70.7 % in 2020/21.
Within the 50 to 64 age group, 72.4 % had been screened in 2018/19, 71.8 % the next yr and simply 70.6 % in 20/21.
Michelle, of Alexandria, has beforehand starkly mentioned she wouldn't be alive had it not been for an unscheduled take a look at carried out throughout a physician’s go to in 2016.
For 21 years, she had opened after which filed away most cancers screening reminders.
The crushing analysis led to her telling her story within the hope that her expertise will elevate consciousness of the hazards.
However she fears years of labor of campaigning has been misplaced, saying the message outlining the significance of smear exams must be relayed.
She mentioned: “It’s taken 20-odd years to get that message on the market and we’ve taken a large step backwards with these figures. So many lives has been misplaced because of the pandemic however so many lives have additionally been misplaced by way of most cancers not being caught shortly sufficient.
“Cervical most cancers is a silent killer and it’s so essential it's caught early.
“You usually don’t get signs till it’s superior and that’s why it’s actually essential that you just get examined.
“Smear exams are uncomfortable and never the nicest however they save lives.
“If I had left my smear take a look at any longer I wouldn’t be right here – I understand how fortunate I'm.
“Since my analysis I’ve had three grandchildren and have another on the best way.
“If I hadn’t have had that take a look at, I'll not have been round for that. It’s a scary thought.
“As girls, we regularly prioritise all the things else in our life aside from ourselves.
“We prioritise our kids and our jobs but when we don’t prioritise ourselves and our well being, then we'd not be round for our kids.”
Two individuals lose their lives to cervical most cancers within the UK day by day. Screening is the easiest way to guard in opposition to the illness, but one in three girls in Scotland nonetheless don’t go for a smear take a look at that may cease cervical most cancers earlier than it begins.
Dumbarton MSP Jackie Baillie, who obtained the figures, mentioned extra have to be completed by way of public consciousness campaigns.
She mentioned: “It's actually worrying that fewer girls in my constituency are presenting for cervical screening now than they had been three years in the past.
“Analysis has discovered that extra disadvantaged areas have a better prevalence of most cancers threat components with individuals much less conscious of signs of most cancers, much less prone to take part in screening programmes, and shamefully, they report dealing with extra limitations when making an attempt to hunt assist and care. The outlook for these in disadvantaged areas, together with in West Dunbartonshire, are a lot worse than in additional prosperous locations.
“We will all play an element in answering the decision to attend for our smear exams however the authorities and well being board should additionally do extra to encourage individuals in disadvantaged areas to attend for these screening appointments by way of focused public consciousness campaigns.”
A spokeswoman for NHS Larger Glasgow and Clyde mentioned it had lately issued a renewed plea as a part of Cervical Most cancers Prevention Week.
She mentioned: “We proceed to induce anybody who's due a cervical screening to come back ahead. That is by far the simplest technique to establish cervical most cancers early and is essential in serving to us deal with it as shortly as attainable.
“It’s comprehensible to really feel anxious concerning the smear take a look at itself however that is the easiest way of stopping cervical most cancers, so we wish to encourage girls throughout Larger Glasgow and Clyde to please come ahead when invited; don’t put it off and if you're nervous about signs of cervical most cancers, please contact your GP immediately for recommendation.”
Minister for Public Well being Maree Todd mentioned: “A five-minute smear take a look at might save your life.
“Even for those who anticipate all the things is okay, it’s essential to not ignore your invite, because the take a look at may help cease cervical most cancers earlier than it begins.
“The take a look at screens for human papillomavirus (HPV), the primary reason behind cervical most cancers, and helps guarantee cell adjustments are recognized and handled earlier.”