The important letters from the NHS you should never ignore

I'm probably in the minority of people who actually look forward to having a cervical smear test - you see, having previously had an abnormal result, I know how important they are.

Throughout adulthood, you might receive letters in the post for screening tests and they can seem like a hassle, or another thing to stick on the bottomless to-do list. But I urge everyone to pick up the phone and make that appointment when you get the chance because it can save lives - or improve your chances of living longer.

Even if you've not got a cervix, there are also NHS screening tests for bowel cancer and abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) screening when you reach a certain age.

READ MORE:

• Louth campaigner urges next Government to join fight to save more lives from cancer

• 'I've lived in Grimsby all my life - but this year I can't vote for town's MP'

I was in my early twenties when I got my first Pap smear test and I was surprised when it said I had low-grade changes of the cells in my cervix. I was referred for a colposcopy but, because I had no current HPV infection, surgery wasn't needed and I was reassured the abnormal cells would likely disappear or stay the same.

Nowadays, the NHS has changed from Pap tests to cervical screening, which looks for HPV infections rather than abnormal cells. This is because HPV is found in 99% of people with cervical cancer, according to the NHS.

Sadly, around a third (34.2%) of 25 to 49-year-olds who were offered cervical screening didn't attend last year. The death of Big Brother star Jade Goody in 2009 when she was just 27 influenced more people to take up the offer but there is still more work to be done.

I suppose it can be daunting to partly undress, but, let's face it, most of us will have some kind of medical intervention during our lifetime - surgery, catheters, childbirth - and might as well get used to it.

During my test, I was given the chance to get changed behind a curtain and the nurse also offered to lock the door so we couldn't be disturbed. I was also provided with a large paper towel to cover my midriff - so you're not going to be completely naked.

There was no discomfort from the test itself which took under a minute. The most stressful part of the ordeal was getting back home because the back tyre on my bicycle blew out - happy days.

But why do some people not want to go? My very reassuring and professional nurse believed it was down to embarrassment and fear. That probably plays a part, but I worry about pockets of England where there is a real stigma around getting tested.

I was one of the first generation of teenagers to be offered the HPV vaccine and I'm very thankful for it. Unfortunately, where I grew up was so conservative a lot of youngsters missed out on the vaccine because their parents said, "No - you're not the type who would catch an infection like that".

The assumption (a pretty bold one in my opinion) is that their children will get married and have one sexual partner their entire life. But, as the NHS says, "most people will get some type of HPV in their life" - and purporting these harmful myths about the "type" of person that gets HPV will not save any lives. So please don't ignore that letter when it comes.