People on Teesside urged to ask questions around Cervical Cancer screenings
Campaigners are hoping to educate people with a cervix about how they can ask questions and make themselves more comfortable during screenings
Last updated 1st May 2025
People with a cervix across Teesside and County Durham are being urged to get their cervical cancer screenings as there are fears patients are being put off attending.
It's as new research from YouGov shows there's a lack of awareness for what patients can request to make them feel more comfortable.
Leanne Sewell from Middlesbrough is a survivor of Cervical cancer - and explains there are ways to feel better about the smear test:
"There's lots of things you can do to make yourself feel more comfortable
"The first time I went for one, I went in a skirt, that negated the need for me to actually take the bottom half of my clothes off.
"You know you can ask for a smaller speculum - they look quite scary so sometimes to have a smaller one makes you feel... less invasive really."
Meanwhile Lisa Tomlinson-Cowie from Billingham is a cervical screening nurse, and has experienced both sides of the issue, as a cervical cancer survivor herself as well;
"We do see a decline in the younger generation,
"That's because they maybe don't know enough about screening, they're afraid to come...
"But they can always come and see the nurse, have a chat first, make sure they're comfortable before we perform any kind of tests."