Cervical Cancer Can Be A Death Sentence Under 25 On The NHS …

Posted by:
Greg Lance – Watkins
Greg_L-W

eMail: Greg_L-W@BTconnect.com

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Hi,

Lets not forget the bravery of Jade Goody (5 June 1981 – 22 March 2009) and how she made her fight against cervical cancer so very public right up until the day she died 8 years ago.

Jade Goody not only fought for survival, you will remember she had two little boys, but she fought for recognition of cervical cancer and the need for much younger women to be screened – the problem then was that women under 25 found it all but impossible to have screening, and Doctors seemed woefully ignorant of the risks for younger women.

Seems like little has changed and her efforts were ignored, once the media had no more mawkish picture stories to capitalise on!

Today I received the letter below – as cervical cancer killed yet another young woman because she couldn’t get screening under 25!

I am sure that you can help, either by seeking out petitions to sign or probably more valuably if you write to your political representatives and petition them yourself, on a regular basis, after all it could be your daughter, sister, girl friend or young wife who is condemned to death because she couldn’t get screening under 25!

If you are a young woman under 25 it could be you!

WHY NOT:
Print out this posting and provide the url sending it with a brief covering note to your MP, Regional Assembly Member and County Councillor – on a regular basis until the NHS law is changed to save young women too!

Just over 2 women die each day of cervical cancer. To be fair to the NHS most of those are in the 60+ age group. However surely teenage girls and young women under 25 should have automatic access to smear tests if they present with any of the symptoms of cervical cancer.

Is it the fact that cervical cancer cases are more prevalent in poorer areas that means it is neglected amongst young women? Do help campaign for a better response to early cervical cancer and help save these young women neglected by the system.

Greg,

My little sister Amber passed away last month after a long battle with cancer. She was only 25. 

She was worried when she started to get symptoms associated with cervical cancer – that was seven years ago. She asked her doctor for a smear test at least 10 times, but every time she was refused. Women in the UK aren’t offered cervical screenings until they turn 25. If my sister had been given what she asked for all those years ago, she might still be here now. 

I want Amber’s death to mean something. That’s why I am campaigning for Amber’s Law: an amendment that would let women under 25 get cervical cancer screening if they ask for it.

In the end Amber had to pay for a private screening in order to get diagnosed – but by then it was too late. She put up a good fight but the cancer had spread everywhere: her lymph nodes, her lungs and her throat. 

Currently women under 25 aren’t screened – the government say lowering the legal age of compulsory screening wouldn’t be productive and women under 25 rarely get this disease. But Amber’s story proves that some young women do get cervical cancer. I don’t think smear tests need to be mandatory for everyone, but if a woman asks her doctor for the test she shouldn’t be ignored. 

Amber was such a fighter. In her last week, when she was admitted to hospital for breathing difficulties, she fought off the paramedics to go upstairs and grab her makeup bag. She was determined keep fighting, she didn’t believe in giving up. Now she’s gone, I am going to be more like Amber and fight to raise her voice.

From
Josh Cliff

Josh Cliff set out to Petition the Government.

Regards,
Greg_L-W.