How to prevent cervical cancer

I have been reading through the most recent issue of Private Eye magazine, replete with several spectacular examples of two-facedness regarding the whole incomprehensible media circus surrounding Jade Goody, such as this little pair of gems from Scottish poison-dwarf Lorraine Kelly

The bubble has finally burst for the thick, foul-mouthed and thoroughly nasty piece of work that is Jade Goody… As for Jade’s boyfriend, Jack Tweed, all I can say is that they deserve each other. He actually makes her look reasonably intelligent.

Lorraine Kelly, The Sun, 20 Jan 2007

I sincerely hope Jade Goody has her wish for a perfect wedding day tomorrow…

Lorraine Kelly, The Sun, 21 Feb 2009

In their Medicine Balls column by Dr Phil Hammond, (writing under the pseudonym M.D.), however – something that I didn’t consider when I wrote my post about Jade’s wedding:

Jade Goody may be encouraging more people to have cervical smears and HPV vaccinations (if only the NHS could afford them), but a much cheaper way to dramatically reduce your risk of cervical cancer is not to smoke.

The risk is greater the earlier you start and more you smoke. Twenty a day increases your risk seven fold, 40 a day increases it 14 fold, because the damaged cervical cells can’t clear the human papilloma virus. A simple message that not even Max Clifford has thought to mention.

Good point, Doc. And another sign that the NHS in the UK continues to struggle – poorly funded and overworked – to save the lives of those who do nothing to help themselves.

8 thoughts on “How to prevent cervical cancer

  1. There’s something I want to know…

    Has anyone asked old Jade if she went for her regular smears? Because I haven’t seen that anywhere.

    Considering what I have seen in regards to family members and stuff…cervical smears can get stuffed.

    But that’s just me and all.

    Goblin´s last blog post was: I. Don’t. Give. A. Flying. Rats. Bum. (Note: 6000 miles… is not responsible for the content of external internet sites)

  2. Surely you can’t be serious? You are actually expecting people to take responsibility and do something that might be to their own benefit?

    Ordinarylife´s last blog post was: This is my goal! (Note: 6000 miles… is not responsible for the content of external internet sites)

  3. @Goblin She didn’t, that was part of the problem. She had the cancerous cells earlier as a teenager and then stopped going for her regular check ups as she couldn’t be bothered. Hence the cancer being caught so late and killing her.

    She admits this and is trying to campaign against.

    I feel so sorry for her but am soooooo sickened by the public and their obsession with watching her die.

    The Divine Miss M´s last blog post was: The cup hath not runneth over (Note: 6000 miles… is not responsible for the content of external internet sites)

  4. Goblin > No idea about your family, but I have to say I know two people whose lives have been saved by a Pap smear.

    OL > I was. That was silly. Sorry.

    Miss M > It is weird, hey. There “Bad Brad” from Big Brother on the front pages here because he shot some robbers at a 7-11. BB has a lot to answer for.

    Goblin > Surely “smeared” that up?

  5. I would also like to mention that pap smears are not normally offered to women in their 20s, because they can apparently give “false” results.

    When I lived in SA, I remember going to have a pap smear every year. When I arrived in the UK in 1998, I was surprised (and somewhat shocked) to learn that women of my age usually only get invited for a smear once every five years. That has since been reduced to three years. As it happens, I had iffy results a couple of years back, and then I was told to come back months later for a re-test. I sometimes think that it is so easy to fall through the cracks with the so-called “free – wait your turn” health service! 🙁

    Helga Hansen´s last blog post was: What’s the buzz? (Note: 6000 miles… is not responsible for the content of external internet sites)

  6. HH > Well, the government in a populist, knee jerk reaction, are lowering the age back to 20. Which is a good thing. Risk/benefit analyses show that makes sense. The level of “false” results are small.
    Also 5 years (and therefore also 3 years) is fine for screening. Pap smears don’t detect cancer, they detect pre-cancerous changes. These are slow moving cancers and so that is an adequate timeframe.

  7. I’m 22 and just started a relationship with someone who is 35. It’s lovely and we are sexualy active. How can I prevent cervical cancer?

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