Megan Barton-Hanson wants to encourage women to attend their cervical screening. Regular tests can help stop cervical cancer before it starts, as they identify potentially harmful cells before they become cancerous.
Speaking exclusively to heat, the Love Island star said "cervical cancer doesn’t discriminate – one of the best ways to prevent it is by going to your screening when invited. While we’re all really busy, it’s important to take ten minutes out of your day to prioritise your health."
Having just turned 25, Megan recently had her very first cervical screening. She described the experience as "painless and over so quickly. You walk in and have a little chat about the test with the nurse, who explains what she's going to do.
"Then, you lie on a bed and have the test - that’s literally it, the whole appointment is over in 10 minutes. In fact, it's so quick that you can literally go on your way to work!"
She added that she "had this pre-conception that it was going to be painful but it wasn't at all. The nurse was great too, she put me at ease straight away by explaining what she was going to do."
Megan's words of advice for women who are nervous about attending are simple: "bring a friend or family member with you and make a day out of it by going for lunch or shopping afterwards. Plus, speak to the people you trust about their experience – my mum and I are super-close, and she reassured me that a cervical screening was nothing to worry about."
And for those who feel self-conscious? Megan advises "there’s no need to be embarrassed as the nurses have seen it all before and they’re trained to make you feel comfortable. After all, it’s better to be safe rather than sorry – so going to your screening is really worth doing."
Cervical Screening Saves Lives. Don’t ignore your cervical screening invite and encourage the people that you love to make an appointment with their GP if they are overdue a test. Search ‘NHS cervical screening' or click here for more information. #CervicalScreeningSavesLives