WOMEN are being reminded to make sure they are up to date with their smear test during Cervical Screening Awareness Week (June 9-15).

Consultant gynaecologists at BMI Bishops Wood Hospital in Northwood are urging women in Hillingdon to book a test in light of recent figures showing 20 per cent of women still do not attend their cervical screening.

The consultants’ support of the campaign aims to raise awareness and educate women about the risks associated with cervical cancer, which takes nearly 1,000 lives each year in the UK.

Miss Victoria Cook, consultant gynaecologist at the hospital said: “Cervical cancer can be a preventable disease. The signs that it may develop can often be spotted early and it can be treated before it even fully develops.

“Many of those who develop the disease have not been screened regularly and the single biggest risk factor for developing cervical cancer is not regularly having a cervical screen.”

Women aged 25 to 49 are invited to attend screenings every three year and those aged 50 to 64 every five years.

A cervical screening test or a smear test, as it is more commonly known, will detect abnormal, pre-cancerous, cells in the cervix.

Most women's test results show that everything is normal, but for one in 20 women the test will show some abnormal changes in the cells of the cervix.

Most of these changes will not lead to cervical cancer and the cells may go back to normal on their own but in some cases, the abnormal cells need to be treated in order to prevent them from becoming cancerous.

Miss Cook said: “It is vital that every woman attends their cervical screen, or if they do miss it for it to be rearranged.

“The routine of attending a cervical screening should be an important part of every woman’s health regime and yet, as these figures show, for many women this message just isn’t getting through.

“This is why I am urging women in Hillingdon to educate themselves to the important role smear tests play in early detection and prevention.

“The smear test for cervical cancer only takes a few minutes every three to five years but it is vital in helping to protect women, saving families from heartbreak and sometimes preventing avoidable deaths.”

To book a test contact your doctor.