{"id":23789,"date":"2018-01-26T14:44:01","date_gmt":"2018-01-26T14:44:01","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/jomec.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/?p=23789"},"modified":"2018-01-26T14:44:01","modified_gmt":"2018-01-26T14:44:01","slug":"forget-wont-happen-says-facebook-star-hannah","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/2018\/01\/26\/forget-wont-happen-says-facebook-star-hannah\/","title":{"rendered":"Forget \u201cit won\u2019t happen to me\u201d says Facebook inspiration"},"content":{"rendered":"

IT’S Cervical Cancer Prevention Week, and two years since she was diagnosed, Hannah Good is raising awareness for cervical cancer and the importance of having a smear test. <\/span>
\nHannah, 31, from Dinas Powys, decided to publish a Facebook post every day this week talking about different elements of her experience, but she did not expect them to have such an impact.<\/span>
\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/photo.php?fbid=904280036056&set=a.596730492806.74003.265501244&type=3&theater
\nHer posts have received hundreds of shares. Mrs Good said: \u201cI was blown away, my plan was to get 10 people to agree to get tested and it’s been shared about 900 times. <\/span>
\n\u201cIt was never my intention for it to go round the internet but I\u2019ve had people I\u2019ve never met telling me they\u2019ve booked their test and sharing their own experiences. <\/span>
\n\u201cIt\u2019s been quite intense but also therapeutic at the same time. I thought if I can find a way to draw out people\u2019s emotions, rather than telling people how important it is, it would be more of a push for people to get tested.\u201d \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>
\nMrs Good, who is an assistant manager at Deloitte in Callaghan Square, Cardiff, was diagnosed with cervical cancer at the age of 29. <\/span>
\nShe went for an initial smear test where they found low grade abnormal cells. Six months later she was called for another test where they found that they had changed to high grade abnormal cells. She then had a colposcopy procedure to investigate further. <\/span>
\nMrs Good said: \u201cA couple of weeks later I went back in, thinking they would just do a simple laser procedure to remove the cells and I\u2019d just have a day of rest and be fine. But they said they\u2019d found cancer cells. <\/span>
\n\u201cI was just not expecting it, people never think it’s going to be them, but suddenly it\u2019s you. They said it was early, but they would never have caught it without my smear test.\u201d<\/span>
\nAn abnormal result is very common particularly in young women but it does not necessarily mean cancer and often the body can destroy these cells on their own. <\/span>
\nMrs Good said: \u201cI think people get really scared when they go for a test, because of the consequences of a doctor finding something. <\/span>
\n\u201cIf they\u2019ve had an abnormal result previously it\u2019s horrible because now someone\u2019s asking you to come back in to have another test or investigation and suddenly it feels a lot more serious.\u201d <\/span>
\nAccording to Jo\u2019s Cervical Cancer Trust, Cervical Cancer is the most common cancer among women under 35 but almost two thirds of women surveyed were not aware of their risk. <\/span>
\nMrs Good said: \u201cI get it, you don\u2019t want to get that part of your body out, but the nurses are trained and have done hundreds of smear tests. They don\u2019t judge anybody, they\u2019re just doing their job. The procedure takes five minutes and the nurses do everything they can to make you feel at ease.\u201d <\/span>
\nDoctors caught Mrs Good\u2019s cancer early and it was treatable with an operation called a radical trachelectomy and she did not need to have chemotherapy or radiotherapy. <\/span>
\nMrs Good said: \u201cLuckily although, my fertility is reduced I am still able conceive and carry a child, but if I had to have a hysterectomy or chemo or radiotherapy, it would be impossible, so for women who want children it\u2019s so important.\u201d<\/span>
\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/photo.php?fbid=904891251176&set=a.596730492806.74003.265501244&type=3&theater
\nMrs Good wanted to share her experience with her Facebook friends to give a more emotional and relatable aspect to the Cervical Cancer Prevention Week campaign. She said: \u201cWhen people hear the word cancer, they think the worst. In fact the hardest thing was telling people because when you say that word, people automatically think that it\u2019s terminal, people don\u2019t seem to realise there are so many variations.\u201d<\/span>
\nEmotionally, this week has brought it all back for Mrs Good, she said: \u201cI think at the time you want to be strong for everyone else that\u2019s panicking for you. <\/span>
\n\u201cI always said to my friends, if I\u2019m crying and upset, feel free to be upset too, but I had people crying at me when I was completely fine, some people don\u2019t know how to handle it. <\/span>
\n\u201cI always say to people, mirror my emotions – so if I\u2019m happy, be happy with me, but if I\u2019m having a dark day then feel free to feel down as well. You just want people to be normal around you and a lot of people don\u2019t know how to react around someone that\u2019s been diagnosed.\u201d<\/span>
\nAccording to Jo\u2019s Cervical Cancer Trust, in the UK, nine women are diagnosed with cervical cancer every day. and two die from this preventable disease every day. 75 per cent of cervical cancers can be prevent by cervical screening. <\/span>
\nThis year, the theme of the week is \u201cReduce Your Risk\u201d. Jo\u2019s Cervical Cancer Trust, said: \u201cCervical cancer can be prevented. With your help we can ensure every woman knows how they can reduce their risk of the disease and the steps they can take to look after their health.\u201d<\/span>
\nThe charity have started the campaign #smearforsmear, in which women take photographs wearing smudged lipstick.<\/span><\/p>\n

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#SmearForSmear<\/a> 2018 is here! Share your #SmearForSmear<\/a> to spread the message that smear tests save lives. It could be the reminder or encouragement someone needs to book their appointment https:\/\/t.co\/xAtxGNcEG0<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/t1xrNZiGGA<\/a><\/p>\n

— Jo's Cervical Cancer Trust (@JoTrust) January 22, 2018<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n