Trans rights supporters -can we please unite on the cervical cancer issue

Not trans, just one of those traditional women, coming bit late to this.

Health messages need to be clear and unambiguous. That's why stating sex and an age range works well - pretty much all of us know, or used to know, where we fit in that scheme of things. You don't need to be too clever to work it out.

Now things have become complicated by the trans issues. Having worked in the NHS I can tell you loads of people have very little idea about their anatomy, sexual and otherwise. So limiting leaflet language to things like 'if you have or have ever had a cervix ...' will be pointless. By all means include the word cervix but other criteria need to be there too if you want to catch as many relevant people as possible in the campaign.

Health trumps everything. So yes, we need to have the word woman as well as trans man. I'm also a bit surprised, reading between some of the lines above, that post op trans patients don't seem to be given much information about what their ongoing medical screenings or needs are likely to be. That would surely be a constructive thing for trans people to campaign about.

That's fantastic homefromthehills

Thank you.

But doesn't the very fact you are asking tell you something Lass?

Er no.

My point was this one tweet is presumably not the only source of information. I have been thinking about it and the sources I mentioned (magazines, Family Planning, post maternity care, doctors' reminders) all presumably still exist?

Kettle, so sorry to hear your news. I am more determined than ever to do what I can. Thank you for asking.

Kettle, I talked to Debbie. I would happily write myself, though it might be better as a letter with as many signatures on it as possible to express the level of concern

Adding a section at the end after many names of men and women that specifies the names of transsexual or transgender people who have agreed to join with the call might add a little emphasis.

Or two separate letters if you prefer.

But yes either way.

Rowan - all of which supports the argument that this wording is coming from some woke , right on employee within CRUK rather than the trans community itself.

as you know I am a solicitor , so see many transwomen and Transmen in my day to day work

Completely irrelevant but I'm not seeing the logical follow on from the first part of that sentence to the second.

But doesn't the very fact you are asking tell you something Lass?

I'm just saying I will never know because it came mainly from my mum for me. Had there not been that case in my family, would it be on my radar?

However, I think things have changed in terms of publicity and urging people to go for smears in recent years. I think it is more widely discussed in the media now than it used to be. I think we just got a letter and may have seen the odd article but that's about it.

Exactly Rowan. The others will. E in the firing line. Only TRA can stop this

It isn't just about CRUK.

I posted this information on another thread but seems relevant here.

These are main Gyny Cancer charities in the UK.
Having personally benefited from the work that they do despite chronic under funding, I think any sane person would object to them having to 're-brand' due to being 'transphobic'.

" Information on Cervical Cancer and Support for Women, Family and Friends Affected by Cervical Cancer. Jo's Trust Cervical Cancer Trust."

"We were set up to save women’s lives by funding ground-breaking research focused on developing effective methods of risk prediction, earlier detection and developing screening for these women-only cancers" The Eve Appeal

The national ovarian cancer charity working to save lives and help women diagnosed live their lives to the full, wherever they live in the UK." Target Ovarian Cancer

"We’re Ovarian Cancer Action – a UK charity dedicated to beating the sixth most common cancer in women. We want to empower women, to give them a voice, and to create a better future for the thousands of mothers, partners, sisters, daughters and friends affected by this disease."

"Action on Womb Cancer (AWC) is a UK charity dedicated to raising awareness of womb cancer, also known as endometrial or uterine cancer.
Womb cancer is a gynaecological cancer. It is the fourth most common cancer in women, yet very little is known about it. Action on Womb Cancer is changing this."

"We were founded by women with ovarian cancer themselves and are therefore especially sensitive to the needs of women with this devastating diagnosis. We have been supporting women affected by ovarian cancer and their families since 1996." Ovacome

& it doesn't work with charities to talk about 'everyone with a cervix / womb/ ovaries etc, since as well as raising awareness, they also support women diagnosed with these gyny cancers. The treatment for which often involves the removal of the affected parts.

They are great charities, so I am delighted to be able to give them a name check and outline of the work they do!

if I had seen that ad, would I, in my early twenties have twigged? Who knows..

But that ad can't be the only source of information? I assume I must have read about it in a women's magazine/ been told about it when getting contraceptive advice/ been told about it as part of maternity care.

My GP sends letters chasing me to make an appointment. That started from when I registered and continues relentlessly despite the fact I don't go for a test and asked them to stop sending reminders. I have opted out of the system for mammogram testing.

Rufustheyawningreindeer

Us lesbian Feminists , rarely engage on anything anymore on here, we only lurk these days , as we get attacked by the same old people

as you know I am a solicitor , so see many transwomen and Transmen in my day to day work

most transwomen are usually recorded as having had a hysterectomy when they transition so I am told (so they don't get sent for screening )
most transmen have hysterectomys

to the original poster , I doubt many Trans people would get involved with any campaigns especially on MN , not many folks from The LGBT community would either

especially when we are all constantly attacked by the same old same old
you cant attack people, personally and then expect us to support you when it suits you,
we haven't forgotten clause 28 , and suspect many posters if they got rid of Transpeople, they would turn on us lesbians and gay men

I have read all the threads on opposition to IVF for lesbians

I knew because my grandmother died from Cervical Cancer at 50 years old.

Had that not happened perhaps I wouldn't have had it on my radar, and my mum wouldn't have drummed it onto me to get a smear.

And I wouldn't have had severe cells removed from my cervix.

If I had seen that ad, would I, in my early twenties have twigged? Who knows..

I found out about smear tests when I went to University Lass.

Lass I get a reminder through the post when my next smear is due.

Thanks homefromthehills

How do women usually find out about smear tests?

I can't remember when, where and how I found out beyond I sort of seemed to always know about them.

I will talk to Debbie Hayton about that suggestion Kettle. Seems a good idea.

To those posters who are trans - would you be willing to write to CRUK about this?

Personally I do not want to have mammograms. This is a personal decision for me. I have opted out of the system with the proviso always that I can request one later if I choose to do so.

I also have a male friend who will never have a prostate marker test, he has private insurance.

I should say that the requesting of these tests are NOT a consequence of the Gender Recognition Act and legal change of sex in there.

That only occurred in 2004 and under 3000 transwomen have this status. It would not be an issue as I bet most of them are transsexuals who have done what I did and stopped needless test requests wasting resources and ensured necessary ones were sent.

In any case I was invited to tests long before the GRA was passed so it definitely was based on your medical record noting you were transsexual not the passing of the GRA.

If people have an issue with badic biological facts being used for medical isses then I'm afraid for the future.

But they do, in the present, Maisy.

foxy

Soooooo

Back the thread, do you think it should stay as it is ...just mention women.....or mention women and those with a cervix

HomeFROMthehills.

Truly inclusive language for cervical cancer would be "women, trans men and anyone with a cervix" . For prostate cancer "men, trans women and anyone who has a prostate gland"
I agree.
It's a health and medical issue.

If people have an issue with badic biological facts being used for medical isses then I'm afraid for the future.