If you have a mother, daughter, sister, auntie and you care for their life, please read and sign. 

Did you know Smear tests in the UK no longer test for cervical cancer, they only test for a virus called human papillomavirus aka HPV. 

Currently, the UK Government have not made this change widely known. This petition is to ensure this information is printed on every appointment letter and results letter, so that every women understands what they are being tested for. Enabling them to demand further tests, and save their life.

What has happened? The national news has picked up on an increase of women with clear smear results receiving advanced cancer diagnoses. The reason? The Government changed the testing procedure from cytology testing to a HPV test without updating patients.

Young girls and women throughout the UK are being led to believe they are ‘cancer clear’ after their smear test.  Reality is they are only HPV clear. This has led to patients (and more importantly doctors) overlooking symptoms, due to the belief that they have already been tested (and cleared) of cervical cancer. 

Cancer is time-critical, these avoidable delays have led to many receiving an advanced or terminal diagnosis, instead of a curable one. 

Information is power.  Smear result letters need to be clear. Young girls and women across the UK need to be armed with the correct information to make an informed decision whether to seek further tests if they believe something is wrong. 

What needs to change to save lives?  This petition will urge the UK Government to change the wording in ALL cervical screening letters with immediate effect.

• Update on the Government change, and the test carried out. 
• What strains of HPV were included in your test.
• What your result was.
• What your result means.
• What further tests can be carried out if needed.

The current Test. Your smear test is a test for HPV. Individuals tested who are positive for HPV will have cytology triage carried out on the same sample, this is to see if HPV has caused abnormal cell changes or cancer.  However, If HPV is NOT found, a cytology test will NOT be carried out. Instead, the individual will be sent a letter offering a further screening test in 3 to 5 years (depending on age). 

Unfortunately, Cancer can still be present without a HPV diagnosis, and as the NHS no longer tests for just cancer (cytology test) it means that many young girls and women in the UK are having their cancer diagnoses missed.

Why do I care? This happened to me. I want to change this, so it doesn't happen to anyone else.

I have always had a clear smear test result, my latest being clear even though I was walking around with stage 3C cervical cancer. (40% survival rate https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/cervical-cancer/survival  )

I am one of the lucky ones, the fifth doctor I saw found my cancer! It is curable. However, I have lost the ability to carry my own child, and I am now in menopause at a young age. The psychological effects on myself and my family have been and continue to be horrendous. This was avoidable!

BUT I am lucky to be alive. I am one of the lucky ones.

If there is one thing you do today, please sign this petition. You will save a life.