Come off it Cancer Research UK

[Noviceoftheweek]

So now women aren't even mentioned in cervical screening awareness activity. To quote Cancer Research UK: "cervical screening (or the smear test) is relevant for everyone aged 25-64 with a cervix."

I despair, I really do.

But @StormTreader some people don't know they've got a gall bladder either.

"It is completely sensible. If you don't have a cervix, you don't need to be screened. Specifying the gender would be irrelevant."

Yes, but by what criteria do you think people should be called for screening, @77leaves?

Do you think all people between the ages of 25 and 64 should be called and then, when at the clinic, they are examined to see whether they have a cervix or not?

Or do you think it would be more relevant to call only those whose sex is registered as female - so women?

Or do you think all people in the country should be required to state whether they have a cervix, breasts, or a prostate, when registering with a GP, in case they are trans and registering by gender not by sex?

I am really interested in how you think people should be selected for screening.

YABU

All women between the age 25-64 is not helpful
-May make some women who were born without a cervix or have had their cervix removed think they need the service
-May make women who dont have a cervix not feel like real women
-May make transwomen think they are entitled to the service when they dont have a cervix
-May make transmen think they dont need the service despite having a cervix
-May discourage transmen from from using the service

All people with a cervix between the age of 25 and 64 is much better

My being able to identify your cervix on a diagram is not the same as not knowing you have one and it doesn't remotely help to conflate the two.

*not being able to

If there are really a signifiant number of women who don't know they have a cervix surely you should be more concerned with improving education?

So much easier said than done.

My being able to identify your cervix on a diagram is not the same as not knowing you have one and it doesn't remotely help to conflate the two.

A cervix is a female organ. The number of biological Male humans with a cervix is zero.

What is the justification for removing all mention of the word woman in a medical communication that should be as simple and clear as possible? Bearing in mind all the blurbs for Male cancers retain the wording wrt men?

Classic admission of defeat - withdrawal

I totally agree with improving sex education.

But let's get that sorted first before we change the wording on these things.

The advert does the best that it can in the light of varying circumstances of the way people see themselves.
We can all have a look at the advert and think "does that apply to me?".
Those that don't have the ability to read/understand the information?
Well, not sure what to suggest.

@user1499173618 unlike you who never even got started maybe one day you'll manage to muster together a point, eh?

All people with a cervix between the age of 25 and 64 is much better

I disagree. As someone who writes patient facing documents as part of my job.

Something like:

Who needs a smear test?
All women between the ages of...
Transmen who have not had a complete hysterectomy including removal of the cervix

Contact your doctor for advice if
You have had a hysterectomy and are unsure if you kept your cervix or not
You are at all unsure if this applies to you

@DeaflySilence, you're right, they can't identify everyone who might need screening and contact them directly. This is why the wording of the ad is sensible. It includes everyone who needs to be screened and doesn't include anyone who doesn't.

@Bowlofbabelfish much better

bowl I like that

77 What a message technically means is irrelevant if the intended audience don't realise it is aimed at them.

I do think it's a bit crap - in general, it's women who need a smear test. Plain English does mean making sure the message is understood - because it's a massively MASSIVELY important message.

Women between the ages of 25-64 should have a smear test.

That's clear and will be universally understood by the majority.

Trans men may need a smear test too, but they should have this covered as part of their medical care around transitioning. Unless they are not accessing any medical care around transitioning. Which is another question.

Gender non-conforming people, or non-binary, or gender queer - they should also understand that they are classed as "women" in terms of biology, even if they do not wish to be referred to that way. After all, they've rejected it as an identity but they know that biologically their body is not male. Again, if this is particularly distressing then they should be under medical care for the dysmorphia, as above.

Campaign for more services for trans/gender NC/non binary etc. They should not be excluded from these services if they won't attend "women's health" clinics etc.

And what a crock of shite that they revised the "women" out for "people with a cervix" but didn't change the men to people with prostates AT THE SAME TIME. It's not a tin-foil hat conspiracy to think women are being treated differently - again, like always.

You’ve completely failed to put forward any convincing argument for your case which is in support of change. Those of us perfectly content with the biologically proven status quo (woman = adult member of female sex = has a cervix, bar removal by surgery) don’t need to put forward arguments. You are tragically confused, which is sad enough. Please don’t sow confusion around you.

So you don't identify as a person?

The advert does the best that it can in the light of varying circumstances of the way people see themselves.
We can all have a look at the advert and think "does that apply to me?".
Those that don't have the ability to read/understand the information?
Well, not sure what to suggest.

People who write these things are paid to write it so it is comprehensible to the all - perhaps ESPECIALLY to those who would have difficulty understanding.

You cannot leave matters of life and death health screening like this to "Does it apply to me?". Particularly, as seen by the stats posted above, when even biologically born women are ignorant of terminology and exactly what's where in their bodies.

Just because people "see themselves differently" it doesn't mean that should become the thing that is most important in this message.

The CRUK "Cervical screening (or the smear test) is relevant for everyone aged 25-64 with a cervix." is almost tautological as you can't have your cervix screened if you don't have one. It is not plain English. I did a readability check and it comes out at 39 - difficult to read . (eg harder to read than Time magazine.) For me that fails as a health message aimed at the general population.

This is how you improve uptake rates www.pulsetoday.co.uk/clinical/clinical-specialties/sexual-health/how-we-boosted-cervical-screening-uptake-by-11/20035225.article.

If somebody addressed me as “person” I wouldn’t respond, no. That is not usage.

I still can't get past that kind of argument

whatever gender you are, if you have a cervix then you should be screened

whatever gender you are??? Really?

I despair sometimes.

Most of us don’t identify as anything. We just exist.

No one has ever managed to explain what a gender identity is to me in a manner that doesn’t create circular reasoning or invoke some kind of Cartesian duality. Ditto living as a woman/feeling like a woman/thinking like a woman.

I just exist. And I’m female, a woman. I’m fairly sure of that because I’m pregnant.

You are acting as though this is the only piece of advertising or writing they do. See this, from CRUK website about cervical cancer? 'woman, womb, etc'
There are different pieces of advertising from CRUK with the word woman all over it. Not everything is a big conspiracy to get rid of women.

Whether you agree with it or not, some people with cervixes DO identify as men and may not think about cervical cancer. At least one single piece of advertising that appeals to them is, I think, not a bad thing.

I'm sympathetic with much of the GC movement, but this state of constantly looking to be offended is getting boring.

I feel like a woman all the time. I don’t just exist. I live in my body in the fullest sense.