Public Cervix Announcement |
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Event to raise awareness of cervical cancer & smear tests
On the 25th November The Half Moon in Putney will see the arrival of 'Public Cervix Announcement'. The event aims to raise awareness about the importance of smear tests and to raise money for Jo's Cervical Cancer Trust. Entertainment for the evening will be in the form of the sensational Diamond Boys and the legendary Judie Tzuke www.tzuke.com. There will be a raffle on the night with prizes that money just can't buy. ALL money from tickets and raffle will go to Jo's Cervical Trust. "For the past 4 years I have been living with constant abnormal smear tests, followed by operations to remove the cells, followed by a high risk pregnancy which thankfully ended happily. If I had not attended my first smear test there is a high chance things wouldn't have turned out as they have today...I may not have been able to have children, or worse I may not even be here. I decided to do something positive and to raise awareness and funds whilst sitting in hospital one day... I wrote this.. I’m 29 years old, I am currently 28 weeks pregnant sitting in The Royal Surrey County Hospital in Guildford on The St Catherine’s Antenatal Ward. Hospitals have become very familiar to me over the past 4 years and I feel incredibly lucky to be here, writing this with one gorgeous toddler at home and another baby on the way. It hasn’t been easy and I’ve not really spoken about what’s happened. But this pregnancy has changed my mind, I want to talk about what I have been through (to anyone that might listen), as well as to raise awareness about cervical cancer and the importance of getting regular smears from the moment you receive a letter in the post offering one. My first smear test ever was abnormal and so were all the ones that have followed. I have had 5 operations to remove pre cancerous cells and during this pregnancy had to have an operation to have a special stitch put in to help keep baby in for as long as possible as the removal of all the cervix puts me at high risk from delivering pre term. After this little one is born I will have to have a hysterectomy. Operations of this nature and anaesthetics are life changing, they put your life plans on hold, put your chi out of kilter, put your immune system in a mess and totally disrupt your personal life. Not to mention the constant worry that the cells will come back but this time be full blown cancer, leading to the worst, leaving my loving family without their mum, wife and daughter. This pregnancy has been very up and down, there have been lots of hospital visits, lots of anxiety and an acceptance that I’ll probably have a pre term baby. As organising events is my job and my passion, I’m planning on organising some events in order to raise money as well as awareness on this subject.I’m reaching out for support and help to make these a success with the knowledge that they will hopefully encourage someone to go to their smear test, that the subject will be talked about more openly, that men, boyfriends and husbands will understand more about the subject and maybe even that I’ll save someone from going through what I have gone through or worse" Tickets Available from:
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