A Peterborough cervical cancer survivor says new home testing kits could save lives
Only 65% of people eligible to be tested in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough were screened
People across Peterborough who don't attend cervical cancer screenings are soon to be offered at home HPV testing kits.
It's in a bid to prevent cases of cervical cancer.
The test is there to saves lives
At the moment, only 65% of people eligible for the tests in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough are screened.
After getting the nod from the UK National Screening Committee in March, the NHS in England is going to offer the tests to certain women.
It is expected that the rollout will begin in January next year.
The NHS offers cervical screening tests - previously known as smear tests - to all women aged 25-64 every three years.
But many people do not take up the offer, with a number citing a lack of time, discomfort or embarrassment.
I could be walking around with cervical cancer and not know it
Stacey Roberts, who is a cervical cancer survivor, said:
"The test is there to saves lives and the way I see it is that it saved mine."
"I had no other symptoms and there was nothing to say to me that something is wrong so if I hadn't had that routine appointment I could be walking around with cervical cancer and not know it."
"I've heard a lot of people who say they're anxious about having it done so maybe having that option of being able to do it at home will prompt more people to test."
A lot of people are anxious about having it done
Officials have said that at-home kits will be offered to women who have rarely or have never attended their cervical screening.
The initiative will see women sent a self-sampling kit in the post which can be returned via pre-paid mail.