Cervical Cancer Awareness Week

For those of you who didn't know, the 25 - 31 January 2015 is Cervical Cancer Awareness Week. 

As the title suggests, this is dedicated to raising awareness of Cervical Cancer including, information on symptoms, causes and stressing the importance of attending a smear test. Each year over 3,000 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer. 

One of the main awareness campaigns, which as far as I have seen is the most popular across social media sites, has been the #SmearForSmear campaign. This, much like the Ice Bucket Challenge and the No Make-up Selfie, encourages women - and men if they like - to get involved to raise awareness of the disease. 

This time instead of pouring freezing water or sharing a bare face, the campaign asks people to take a photo with lipstick smeared down their face. Although this may sound a little bizarre, the "Smear For Smear" actually very cleverly ties in with one of the main ways to detect and prevent Cervical Cancer - a Smear Test. 

Source

What is a Smear Test?

According the NHS website a Smear Test, or cervical screening test, is a method used by doctors and nurses to check and detect for any abnormal cells within the cervix. The examination will check for any abnormalities as well as any cells that may become cancerous. 

All women aged 25 - 49 are invited to attend a screening every three years and women aged between 50 & 64 are invited every five years. 

As I am only 22 I am not ready to be invited for a smear test, so therefore have no personal experience of how an examination would go. However, it is something I have researched and according to one the website behind the #SmearForSmear campaing - Jo's Trust (which you can visit here) the test itself only lasts a matter minuets. The nurse/doctor will ask you to undress from the waist down and lay down. Next, they will insert an instrument called a spectrum in order to gain access to your cervix (don't worry I've heard from many people that this doesn't hurt at all). Finally a specially designed brush is used to collect cells from the cervix ready to be sent to a lab... And that's it! You're free to get dressed & carry on your day. 

Now for anyone else that hasn't attended a smear test, I'm sure we're all thinking the same thing.. Yes, I imagine this will feel pretty uncomfortable & I wont lie, I'm not particularly looking forward to having a stranger poking around & looking at my lady parts.. but I know it's 100% worth it in order to check my health. At the end of the day, what's a few moments of embarrassment where your well being is involved? 

At the end of the day, these doctors & nurses have seen thousands of different private areas and I highly doubt they're even phased by yours or mine in the slightest! 

Other methods of prevention.

If you're too young for the smear test but want to do all you can to prevent the disease from forming, contact your doctor about the HPV vaccine. According to the NHS the vaccine can save at least 400 lives each year. This is something that I was lucky enough to be offered when I was in sixth form.. Plus as I was over 15 I had to have the set of 3 injections. However besides the slight sting of the injection - and a slightly dead arm the days after each shot - it really didn't hurt at all (& I'm a massive wimp!). If you want to know more click here to be taken to the NHS website. 

One last thing I want to point out in this - pretty long - blog post is symptoms that could indicate cervical cancer. This was something I personally wasn't aware of so think it's so important for other people to be aware. 

Symptoms:

* Abnormal bleeding - e.g. during/after sex or between periods 

* Unusual/unpleasant discharge
*Discomfort/pain during sex
*Lower back pain 

*Note*
These symptoms do  not mean you definitely have cancer - if you experience anything abnormal, book an appointment with your local GP. It could be nothing, but it's better to be sure. 

So come on girls (& any guys) - get involved with the #SmearForSmear campaign this week. Find more information by clicking here then Smudge that lipstick & text CCPW01 followed by the amount to 70070 and raise awareness for Cervical Cancer! 

If anyone has taken part in this campaign let me know, I'd love to see your photos!

xxx

My ALS/MND Ice Bucket Challenge

I'm sure most of you have seen the Ice bucket challenge floating around social networking sites and the internet recently. However for those of you who don't know, the ALS Ice bucket challenge is a campaign which aims to raise awareness and money for ALS - similar to the "No Make-up Selfie" campaign for Breast Cancer. 

ALS -  Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis which is also referred to as Motor neurone disease - is a disease that effects the nerve cells in the brain, spinal cord and muscles throughout the body. According to the ALS Association  symptoms include: 

• muscle weakness in one or more of the following: hands, arms, legs or the muscles that control speech, 
  swallowing or breathing
• twitching and cramping of muscles - especially those in the hands and feet
• impairment of the use of the arms and legs
• "thick speech" and difficulty in projecting the voice
• in more advanced stages - shortness of breath, difficulty in breathing and swallowing

ALS is a relativity rare condition with roughly 5,000 people in the UK and 30,000 people in the USA being effected. However there is currently no cure and the treatments that are available are only there to help ensure the patient is as comfortable as possible (for example with a breathing mask to reduce shortness of breath). 

Unfortunately the condition strikes it's victims fast and is a severely life shortening condition for most people. The NHS states that life expectancy for about half of those with the condition is three to four years from the start of symptoms. However, some people may live for up to 10 years, and others even longer. Perhaps the most famous example of this comes from Professor Steven Hawking - who has currently survived with the condition for over fifty years. 

Source

The challenge itself started after a baseball player with the condition -  Pete Frates - volunteered to have a bucket of ice and water poured over himself. Following this many public figures and celebrities - including Josh Hutchinson, Victoria Beckham, Tom Cruise, Anna Kendrick, Ben Afleck and Cheryl Cole  (to name a few) - have joined in too. 

                                            

Sources - AK, CC, JH

The Ice Bucket Challenge Rules: 

• After being nominated (or if you haven't been nominated but fancy starting your own chain - the more the merrier) you have 24 hours to complete the challenge
• Next you must upload a video - in which you state that you are doing the challenge, say your nominations (I think it started as 2 or 3 but I haven't stuck to this so I say how ever many you like and tip the ice and water mixture over your head
• Finally - Donate!
  This can be done in different ways which vary dependent on where you're located.
  Here in the UK donations go to the Motor Neuron Disease Association (MND). This can be through their Just Giving Page which can be found here, by texting ICED55 followed by the amount (e.g. £5) to 70070 or by calling  01604 611860 and referencing the 'Ice Bucket Challenge'. 
  In the US you can click here  to go to the ALS official page or I'm sure there are ways in which you can text to donate too - (sorry I did try and find out but couldn't seem to find a number).

My challenge:

Here's a few photos from my challenge - which I completed earlier on today. You can find a shorter version of the video on my Instagram (as I rambled on nearly a minute in the actual video on my Facebook, nominating half my friends haha!). 

Just a tad chilly! 

Now.. I nominate YOU yes that's right - you to take part in the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge. It's all for a good cause - so lets raise both money and awareness for this heartbreaking condition! 

Leave me a comment below if you've completed the challenge - I'd love to see! 

xxx