Scarlett Moffatt has spoken of how cervical screening "may have saved her life" as she's backed a new national campaign to boost attendance at routine checks.
With NHS figures from March 2021 showing that one in 4 of eligible women and others with a cervix don't get checked, Gogglebox star Scarlett has joined other famous faces to back a new Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) campaign called Help Us Help You - Cervical Screening Saves Lives.
Along with figures like Loose Women's Linda Robson and RuPaul's Drag Race star Victoria Scone - the first cisgender woman to take part in the show - Scarlett appears in the campaign highlighting the importance of attending a cervical screening appointment when invited.
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National statistics show that around 2,700 people are diagnosed with cervical cancer in England each year - and approximately 690 die from the disease. Medics think 83% of deaths could be prevented if everyone attended their appointment regularly.
The DHSC has also commissioned a survey highlighting the concerns which lead to non-attendance. Of 3,000 respondents, 42% said embarrassment was a reason for not having had their check-up, with 34% saying they just "kept putting it off" and 28% worried it would be painful.
The Government has also highlighted lower levels of attendance among lesbian or bisexual women - 15% of those aged over 25 had never had a smear test - compared to 7% in the general population.
Scarlett explained why she was "proud and passionate" to be supporting the campaign.
"A few years ago, my cervical screening may have saved my life," she said.
"The screening detected HPV and abnormal cells linked to the development of cervical cancer, and I underwent treatment to have the cells removed. If I hadn't been to that appointment, I don't know what situation I would have been in now."
Scarlett, from Bishop Auckland, County Durham, said she had spoken to TV doctor Dr Zoe Williams for guidance, and said speaking to medics was the best way to learn about the cervical screening procedure.
"I cannot urge people enough to talk to their doctor or nurse about cervical screening if they’re feeling embarrassed or nervous. Please attend your appointment when you are invited – it’s a few minutes that could save your life."
Dr Williams, who previously practised at the RVI in Newcastle and even played rugby for Blaydon before featuring in the Sky revival of Gladiators, also features in the video.
Dr Williams said: "The symptoms of cervical cancer are not always obvious, and there may not be any symptoms at all until the cancer has reached an advanced stage. That's why it's important that you attend all your cervical screening appointments.
"If you are feeling nervous or embarrassed, then I cannot encourage you enough to talk to your nurse during the test and remember you are in control and can stop the test whenever you want to.
"If you’re worried about feeling exposed, I would suggest wearing a skirt, dress or long jumper when you go for your screening. Screening can stop cancer before it starts and saves thousands of lives every year. If you missed your last cervical screening, book an appointment with your GP practice or sexual health clinic now."
The full findings from the new survey reveal in the North East show that more than half of people said they were nervous about their most recent smear test - but 80% said their nurse or doctor had "put them at ease" and 90% said they would encourage others to go for their test.
In the North East, groups such as Amber's Law - founded by the family of Sunderland's Amber Rose Cliff who died in 2017 at 25 after developing cervical cancer - are vocal campaigners urging people to get their cervical screening test.
Kay Attle, partner of Amber's dad Darren, told ChronicleLive : "For us, it's all about educating people. We are so lucky in the UK that we have got the screening programme we do. Throughout the world is really up there among the four main cancers - but we keep trying to encourage people to come forward."
Though in Scotland and Wales, changes have come in so that people are invited for cervical screening only every five years, the NHS in England is still operating on the previous system: so, if you're aged 25 to 49, you'll still be invited for a test every three years.
For those aged 50-64 it's every five years, and the tests are not recommended for those over 65 unless abnormalities have previously been found.
The changes are expected to come in England at a later date - and charities have reassured people that this is in response to advances in science and medicine.
