Smear Test Poster - Little Boy on stair - Mum didn't have test - now I have no Mum.

[Granitetopping]

AIBU to think that this poster is in poor taste and uses unnecessary emotional blackmail?

[lottiegarbanzo]

I don't think it is blaming women. It is trying to scare us, with reason I think. The point is that cervical cancer, once started, can develop to become untreatable very quickly. So missing one smear, or delaying by a year or two can be the difference between easily treatable and not treatable.

That's why the 'cost benefit' calculation for usefulness and justifiability of scare tactics falls heavily in their favour in this instance.

[junemami]

Happy - because cervical cancer is one if the few cancers that can be reliably screened for, in that a 'simple' low risk test can pick up precancerous cells that can then be treated before they become cancer. And because otherwise cervical cancer can affect young women. And because if its not picked up and treated early the treatment for advanced cancer is pretty horrible and doesn't always work. And because people die from this (as several posters have mentioned).

I can't think of any other cancer screening programme that is as effective.

We are fortunate to live somewhere where this is free and simple to access. All we have to do is take responsibility for our own health and take up the invitation.

I do agree though that the age should be lowered and am grateful to live in Wales where I had 2 smear tests before women in England of the same age would have had their first.

[JenaiMorris]

Assuming that women aren't so scared by the campaign that they're frightened off going for screening, lottie.

[EnjoyResponsibly]

If this ad shocks and the GPs get paid I'd say FANTASTIC! Whatever it takes, get people in for a quick exam. Save lives. Save treatment money. There's no losers in that argument.

My only question would be where's the same post addressing the men's cancers?

[EnjoyResponsibly]

Expat and MrsDV I'm so sorry for your losses.

[Meglet]

Yabu.

I've run the gauntlet of gynea procedures for abnormal smear tests + carcinoma in situ, ending in a hysterectomy. And I always had regular smears, I probably wouldn't be here if I'd messed around and avoided them.

Sorry, I hated smears, I would cry and needed diazepam for my first colposcopy but I bloody did it. A few minutes of discomfort is miles better than being dead. Call in babysitting favours, take a valium, go shopping afterwards, anything to get your backside to the GP's and get it over and done with.

[ILikeBirds]

EuroShagmore - in my area they are now testing for hpv and if you don't have type 16 or 18 they are not treating slight abnormalities which shoukd prevent some unneccssary treatment.

I also wonder about how the vaccination schedule will impact on treatment protocols

[TwelveLeggedWalk]

This thread has just reminded me to rebook mine, so thank you all.

[HighJinx]

So very sorry for your loss MrsDV.

Sadly I think this story is echoed many, many times in all forms of cancer. It seems that early diagnosis is often missed despite the patients best intentions.

[Midori1999]

euroshagmore I don't think CIN 1 is routinely or often treated with lletz or similar, there is usually a colposcopy and maybe biopsy. Certainly my Mum, who has had CIN 1 several times has never had more than colposcopy. In my area (different to my Mums) I was told CIN1 is not treated.

I had CIN3 removed by LLetz last year having just 'not got round' to having a smear for around 8 years. I felt v wry stupid, even more so as my consultant told me when my biopsy results came back that if I'd waited another 6 months then she would almost certainly be telling me I had cervical cancer.

I think any campaign that's will save lives is worth while.

[HighJinx]

I now live in The Netherlands and here you are only entitled to a smear test on a standard health insurance policy every 5 years.

In the USA it is annually I believe.

I wonder what the statistics are for cervical cancer survival dependent on these different policies.

[persimmon]

I just Googled the poster and have literally welled up!
It does exactly what it's meant to do.

[EasilyBored]

I had my first smear at 18, and had some abnormal results, off and on for the next several years. They never needed treating, but I had to go back for repeat smears every six months for years. It was finally dropped down to every three years, then I had a dodgy one and needed a repeat, but I was pregnant and too nervous after a recent msc. Anyway, smear post baby (at my six week check up, that was fun) showed CIN1, went for colposcopy and had a LEEP at the same time. The consultant said that they are treating more and more women with colposcopy and LEEP now rather than six monthly repeated smears because so many women are just not going for the repeats and it's better to just have a good look with the colposcopy and see what's going on.

By the time you get symptoms of cervical cancer it is often very late. I nag my friends endlessly to go for smear tests. The poster does exactly what it should. I know it could hurt people who have suffered or have had a loss, but if it gets more women through the GP's doors, then it's a good thing.

[expatinscotland]

The US is every three years following IIRC, two or three normal smears.

[EuroShaggleton]

Ilike and Midori perhaps it is not the normal policy, but my consultant wanted to carry out a lletz for CIN1. I researched it and declined treatment for 6 months, wanting to have a repeat smear first. My next smear was clear.

And Easily who posted just above me mentions that she had CIN1 treated.

[Sallystyle]

After reading "The Patient Paradox-sexed up medicine" it made me realise how much treatment is done on people who have low grade HPV that would probably have cleared the virus themselves (same for mammograms) However, personally I would prefer to get early treatment, even if that means getting treated for something that may not have turned into cancer if left alone. The book is very good though and I recommend it to anyone who wants to know the truth about screening tests.

I had a biopsy for CIN 1 which turned out to be fine and it went away on it's own. I have had two normal smears since then but now go yearly.

I do think these campaigns are great but as a health anxiety sufferer I do try to avoid them as they get my anxiety going.. especially the ones on the radio that gives you some of the symptoms of certain cancers. If it saves only one life it is worth it.

[Sallystyle]

When I said same for mammograms I wasn't talking about being able to clear the virus yourself as it isn't a virus, obviously.

I was talking about how it isn't really proven that regular mammograms has helped the survival rates of breast cancer and plenty of women are being treated for DCI's which could never have turned harmful if left alone.

[ILikeBirds]

The thing is, it's never going to be right for everyone, i can see the benefits of conservative treatment but looking back i would have preferred lletz initially rather than colposcopies every 6 months, multiple biopsies, freezing, cauterisation, before finally having a lletz procedure 3 years later.

[minibmw2010]

It worked on me, I hadn't had one for ages, had several reminder letters, saw that advert and made an appt right then. I couldn't care less if people think its in bad taste, at least it has done its job.

[Lemonylemon]

OutsideOver, there was a campaign for testicular cancer. It was called 'Check Em Out'.

[AllBellyandBoobs]

CIN I isn't immediately treated in my area either, 6 month follow up is advised. HPV testing is now routinely carried out alongside the smear to give more information.

I have had regular smears since i was 18. Six years ago I was told I had CIN III and treatment included LLETZ followed by a cone biopsy. The consultant at the time told me it is not unusual for her to see people who have gone from a normal smear to having CIN III changes detected within 6-12 months. Not really common but certainly not unusual. The cells affected in me were glandular cells rather than the more typical squamous cells, as a result I've had 6 monthly check ups (for 3 years) followed by annual check ups, I still have another 4 years before they'll discharge me from clinic. I've had a beautiful dd during this and will worry more once I have been discharged i think.

I'm amazed by how many women put off or ignore having smears done. Also by how many women think that because they've only had one sexual partner they are somehow immune to it. The advert is sad and upsetting but I hope it encourages more women to act when their reminder letter comes and/or to see the GP if they have any unusual symptoms .

[sherzy]

Yabu it will never please everyone and is designed to get a strong response. Job done imho.

[GazpachoSoup]

YABU. I haven't seen the advert, but it sounds like a great idea. If it makes people take notice, then surely that's a good thing and job done?
I'll never understand why people regularly put off smears. Yes, they're uncomfortable (but only very briefly for a couple of seconds, then job done!)
Surely a few minutes of discomfort is worth it?
Sounds like the advert's done its purpose if it's evoking strong feelings in people.