Women across Cumbria are being urged to attend their smear tests.

During Cervical Cancer Prevention Week, the North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Trust (NCIC) is encouraging everyone to attend their cervical screening.

Cervical cancer is the most common cancer in women aged 35, and 75% of cervical cancers are prevented by smear tests.

Symptoms of cervical cancer include lower back pain; pain during sex; bleeding during or after sex, or between periods; post-menopausal bleeding; and unusual discharge.

Everybody between the ages of 25 to 64, and who is registered with their GP as female, is automatically invited for a screening.

Lynsey Robson, Macmillan lead cancer nurse for NCIC, said: “We really want to encourage awareness of cervical cancer and increase the vigilance in terms of the specific signs and symptoms for potential cancer diagnosis.

“There’s support out there, and people can visit websites such as Macmillan, who have a lot of good support material, and they’ve got a helpline as well that’s available seven days a week for people to contact if they’ve got concerns. Also there’s a really good Cancer Research UK website."

“The Government advice for Covid-19 is to Stay Alert for signs and symptoms of Covid, and what we would also say is to Stay Alert to the signs and symptoms of cancer.

“If you’re concerned your symptoms may be cancer, please contact your GP.”

For more information, visit the NCIC website.