Some thoughts on this: Firstly, it might be personal preference, but I am not keen on this kind of campaign as I feel like it trivialises cancer. Sometimes the serious message gets lost because people are sharing pics of cats or whatever and the important context is gone.

More importantly, the statistic being used in the campaign is misleading. It says 57% of women put off cervical screening if they can't get waxed. But on further investigation, that's not accurate.
The page here goes on to say "57% of women who regularly have their pubic hair professionally removed would put off attending their cervical screening appointment if they hadn’t been able to visit a beauty salon." https://t.co/7W3k4c4J1C
So the 57% represents a concern not across the whole population of women, but only those who regularly get waxed. So how big of an issue is this across the whole population? And what else is stopping people getting smears?
I think campaigns for cancer screening are really tricky because there is so much nuance that often doesn't fit into a catchy headline or hashtag. It's certainly not easy and is part of a bigger conversation.
Some things that would have encouraged me to get a smear test, back when I needed them (or some things that help me feel more comfortable about going to medical appointments):

1. Knowing exactly what happens/how it works/whether it's painful or uncomfortable or what
2. Whether you get or can ask for a female nurse
3. Knowing that if anything is found, it may be easily treated. And that if it's uncomfortable for a few minutes, it'll be well worth it to either solve any problems or to get that great feeling of relief that everything's okay.
I think it could help people to think about the root of their fear or embarrassment and encourage them to find ways to address those fears with the aim of feeling more comfortable - e.g. by asking questions about what to expect.
I think validating people's fears also goes a long way. At my first smear test I said I was nervous and the nurse said "why are you nervous? I've done this seven times today." Though it may be helpful to know how routine the procedure is, I felt dismissed rather than listened to.
Like, I don't care how many times you've done this procedure today - I'm not worried about you being nervous!

But knowing how many people also feel nervous - but go anyway, and come out feeling glad they did it and that it wasn't that bad - maybe that could be encouraging.
But getting people to share pics of cats... reminds me of those things on Facebook where people inbox each other the colour of their handbags and that's supposed to raise awareness but nobody actually explains the thing they're sharing awareness of.
Going off on a tangent slightly, but also, campaigns that seem to trivialise cancer, - I'm not into it. Although, some people seem to be. Maybe it makes things seem more accessible instead of scary. Because cancer is scary and people don't want to think about it. I get that.
Anyway, these are all just musings of a three-time cancer survivor. Listen to us sometimes; we occasionally have some insights about these things.

More from Health

🚨Important changes to lockdown/self-isolation regulations from 5pm

The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (All Tiers and Self-Isolation) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2021

£800 'house party' FPN & police can now access track & trace data

https://t.co/k9XCpVsXhC


“Large gathering offence”

As trailed by Home Secretary last week there is now a fixed penalty notice of £800 (or £400 if you pay within 14 days) for participating in an gathering of over 15 people in a private residence


Fixed Penalty Notices double for each subsequent “large gathering offence” up to £6,400

Compare:
- Ordinary fixed penalty notice is £200 or £100 if paid in 14 days
- Holding or being involved in the holding of a gathering of over 30 people is £10,000


Second big change:

Since September has been a legal requirement to sell-isolate if you test positive/notified by Track & Trace of exposure to someone else who tested positive

Police can now be given access to NHS Track & Trace data if for the purpose of enforcement/prosecution


This will make it easier for police to enforce people breaking self-isolation rules. Currently there has been practically no enforcement.

Data says only a small proportion of people meant to be self-isolating are fully doing so.

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Great article from @AsheSchow. I lived thru the 'Satanic Panic' of the 1980's/early 1990's asking myself "Has eveyrbody lost their GODDAMN MINDS?!"


The 3 big things that made the 1980's/early 1990's surreal for me.

1) Satanic Panic - satanism in the day cares ahhhh!

2) "Repressed memory" syndrome

3) Facilitated Communication [FC]

All 3 led to massive abuse.

"Therapists" -and I use the term to describe these quacks loosely - would hypnotize people & convince they they were 'reliving' past memories of Mom & Dad killing babies in Satanic rituals in the basement while they were growing up.

Other 'therapists' would badger kids until they invented stories about watching alligators eat babies dropped into a lake from a hot air balloon. Kids would deny anything happened for hours until the therapist 'broke through' and 'found' the 'truth'.

FC was a movement that started with the claim severely handicapped individuals were able to 'type' legible sentences & communicate if a 'helper' guided their hands over a keyboard.