To cancel cervical screening next week?

[Nicecupofcoco]

I have a routine smear booked next week, I've always had them when I've been called, and up to now no issues. I'm booked in for next week, I was unsure when I booked, but the receptionist at gp reassured me still going on as normal!
I'm quite anxious about the virus, should I cancel and rebook for afew months down the line, or am I being over cautious?

Don't cancel. Please go. They're still running smears for a reason. Wear a mask, keep your distance.

I would be anxious as well , but remember whilst they want to protect you , they probably want to protect themselves more !
Wear your mask , take plenty of hand sanitizer gel ( I prefer to use my own ) and touch least things as possible. But definitely go .

There's no point in avoiding the virus if it means you miss an opportunity to find a deadly cancer.

Just get on and go. I had mine in the last lockdown. Got the results back quickly too

Please don't cancel.
I'm Irish and Vicky Phelan was on our main Friday night chat show last night. She has a terminal cervical cancer diagnosis.
She is a campaigner due to a scandal in Ireland where smears where misread and it was kept secret, so the window of opportunity to treat women early and easily was missed.
Some of those women were terminal when they eventually got diagnosed.
I'm not trying to frighten you but there are so few cancers that can be detected early enough to be treated in an hour, don't miss your opportunity.

Risk of cancer V risk of covid?

You can do what you can to minimise your risk of covid, as will the surgery staff. You can do what you can to minimise any cancers by having your screening done.

Go for the smear.

Your surgery will have measures in place, they want to keep people and their staff safe and understand it more than a lot of places. Pop your mask on, if you do have to touch doors etc (here they're open) make sure to sanitise, and then have a shower once home and change clothes if it would make you feel better. Please go.

We’re a cold site - no Covid cases (or potential Covid cases) are seen in our surgery. Hence we can carry on doing our routine work such as smears, immunisations, dressings etc as well as catch up work and ongoing GP work.

We’re also lateral flow testing all staff twice weekly, wearing PPE, have a closed door policy and are cleaning just as much as we were last year.

Your risk will be low, far outweighed by the benefit of attending screening.

Thanks all!! You all talk good sense! I shall go!

And I can’t imagine we’ll be working any differently in a few months time either, so no point postponing.

I'd go.

My local breast screening programme paused in first lockdown but was running again over the summer and I went. The covid precautions were really good.

It's important that routine preventative medicine continues wherever it is safe to carry it out. The concerns over additional cancer deaths and serious illness owing to suspensions of screening are real, and if you can keep yourself clear of backlogs then do so

COVID vs cancer? I know which risk I would rather take to be honest. Unless you are CEV then I would go.

I felt the same but still went. There wasn't a soul in the doctors, I went straight in after touching nothing, nurse all PPEd up an me in a mask, quickly done and out again. Got the results a few weeks later rather than a week or so like last time. Just get it over with.

Only one person is being allowed into my health centre. You aren't allowed to turn up early. You are advised to arrive on time and press the intercom with your elbow. They answer and ask your name. The nurse or doctor, wearing a mask, and checking you are wearing one, then escorts you to their room. They sanitise their hands and carry out the examination or blood test etc.They then escort you out again through the empty waiting room.

Could you telephone and ask what happens at your surgery to see if it puts your mind at rest?

Please go.

Please go, GP surgeries are managed so that the footfall is at a minimum and extra precautions are in place for both patients and staff. Earlier on MN we had someone asking if it was appropriate to drive for 25 mins with her family to get a Mc D meal and now OP is questioning going to a potentially life saving procedure. 🤦‍♀️

I have an appointment to have a minor Gynae procedure done in a couple of weeks on a hospital ward. I am considering cancelling due to covid risk. My worry is that if I cancel then it will take ages to get another appointment.

I had to have a mole check during last lockdown and felt really safe at GP surgery, had to wait outside until called, staff were all in full PPE.
I

I know I'm really anxious about the virus... It's so hard when you hear the news and they make it sound as though if you step outside you'll catch it! I've just had a family friend pass away due to complications from it, which doesn't help. I do know I need to try to refrain from watching the news!
Thank you everyone for reassuring replies, I'm going to go for my appointment!

I’ve got a mammogram next week at hospital in London. I’m definitely going

How can I put this? The nurse is at the wrong end to transmit Covid!

I'm glad I went to my appointment (a polyp was found, it came back negative thankfully, but I'm glad to know), even if it was weird laying there with a mask while undressed from the waist down...

Don't cancel x

Why not postpone 6 months?

Don't postpone-just go. You have the appointment and you can just get it over with and forget about it then.